Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to complete the implementation of the Barr tribunal recommendations and to implement the recommendations contained in the Garda Inspectorate report relating to barricade inspections. [19311/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the publication of the Barr Tribunal Report the Garda Inspectorate were tasked with reviewing the report to assess the reforms already introduced in the Garda Síochána and to recommend any additional steps required to bring the organisation into line with best international practice particularly relating to barricade incidents. Recently the Inspectorate published a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in their report and I am informed by the Garda Authorities that of the total of eighty-five recommendations contained in the report, thirty-four have been fully implemented with a further forty-one recommendations currently underway with a targeted date for implementation by the end of 2008. The remaining nine recommendations, which were accepted by the Commissioner with some modifications, are planned for implementation in 2009.

In relation to gun licensing law, the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which was signed into law on 16 July 2006, provides for significant amendments to the Firearms Acts 1925-2000 and substantially reforms the law in relation to legally and illegally held firearms. The vast majority of the recommendations proposed for gun licensing have been legislated for in this Act. The Firearms Consultative Panel, which was set up in 2007 to assist with the introduction of the firearms licensing regime, is currently working on the outstanding issues. The Panel comprises organisations representing the different shooting interest groups, firearms dealers representatives, the Garda Síochána, officials of my Department and other relevant Departments.