Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that the number of licensed handguns here has been steadily increasing in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21130/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that there has been an increase in the number of handguns licensed in this jurisdiction since 2004 following a legal challenge taken on the temporary custody order made in 1972 by the then Minister for Justice. The following table shows the number of such firearms licensed each year since 2004.

It should be noted that the total number of hand guns licensed is less than one per cent of all licensed firearms in the State. The House may be interested to know that in this State, in the region of 200,000 people own approx. 231,000 firearms. I should also add, to put the matter in context, that our definition of what is a firearm is among the most stringent to be found in any jurisdiction. Under the Firearms Act 1925, any device with a muzzle energy greater that one joule is regarded as a firearm. Many countries, for example, do not require a licence for a wide range of sporting firearms which are all treated as part of the firearms regime here.

Obviously, the key concern of my Department is public safety. The Criminal Justice Act 2006, when fully brought into force, will modernise and tighten up the law in relation to firearms certificates. Section 32 provides that a number of conditions must be met before a firearms certificate can be granted, which include the applicant having a good reason for requiring the firearm in respect of which a certificate is applied for and that the person can be permitted to possess the firearm without danger to public safety or security. A further condition is that the person has provided secure accommodation for the firearm and ammunition. Under the section the applicant has to provide the names and addresses of two referees who may be contacted to attest to the applicant's character. An applicant must also provide written consent for any enquiries in relation to the applicant's medical history that may be made from a health professional. The section also provides for the making of regulations providing for secure accommodation for firearms and these will be made at the earliest possible date.

I intend to bring the remaining parts of the Act 2006 into force as quickly as possible and I will bring forward some technical amendments to enable their commencement, in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which will be published in the coming weeks.

I am also conscious that some recent court judgements may have a bearing in this matter and will have them examined in this context.