Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 649: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 have been implemented; if his attention has been drawn to employment implications that have arisen since the Bill was enacted; when new gun licences will be issued to law abiding citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31044/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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All of the sections on firearms contained in Part 4 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 have been commenced with the exception of the prohibition on the personal importation of firearms. This measure will be addressed in the coming months in tandem with the transposition of the new EU Weapons Directive. In addition, the outstanding firearms related sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 have also been commenced.

As the Deputy will appreciate, in my role as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, my main priorities in relation to firearms are public safety and the control of firearms. The two Acts already mentioned, which were debated extensively by the Oireachtas, introduce a range of measures in relation to firearms licensing such as the requirement that applicants have provided secure accommodation for their firearms, that they prove their identity, provide the names of two referees and give consent to medical enquiries though such enquiries will only be made where necessary.

A major aspect of these reforms is the introduction of a new three year licence to replace the old one year licence, where all firearms certificates expired each year, on 31 July. To manage the transition phase, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act contained a provision to extend the certificates which would have normally expired on 31 July 2009. These licence extensions range from three to eleven months and the Garda Commissioner wrote to each licence holder to inform the holder of the extension he had been granted. The shortest of these extensions will expire on 31 October 2009.

Because of the new arrangements, the 'one year licence' no longer exists and consequently could not be issued during the months of August or September. Prospective applicants, however, can apply for the new three year licenses and the first of these will issue in the coming weeks. The Garda Commissioner recently published on the Garda website 'Guidelines as to the Practical Application and Operation of the Firearms Acts, 1925-2009' and I believe these guidelines will prove invaluable in assisting members of the Garda Síochána and the public alike by bringing clarity and transparency to firearms licensing.