Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Licensed Firearms

9:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of licensed handguns in respect of each year from 2002 to date in 2009; the number of licensed handguns that were reported as stolen; the number of such stolen guns that were subsequently used in crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31164/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to a tabular statement setting out the information sought by him on handguns licensed and handguns stolen for the years 2004, when handguns began to be licensed again, to date. The figures show that 52 firearms classified as handguns were stolen in the period in question while the current number of handguns currently licensed is approximately 1,900.

As I have stated previously in the Dáil I am advised by the Garda Authorities that stolen firearms do subsequently get used in the commission of other criminal offences. Not all stolen firearms used in the commission of these offences are recovered so it is not possible to say precisely how many formerly legally held handguns were used in the commission of criminal offences.

|2003/04|2004/05|2005/06|2006/07|2007/08|2008/09|

-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------|

Handguns| 1 | 370 | 948 | 1,368 | 1,895 | 1,902 |

| | | | | | |

licensed1 | | | | | | |

-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------|

-----------------------------------------------

| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |

-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------|

Hanguns | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 18 |

stolen2 | | | | | | |

-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------|

1 The number of handguns, recorded on PULSE, for which

a firearms certificate has been issued for years 2004 to 2009 (to 10 September)

2 Between 2004 and 2009, 52 handguns are recorded as stolen. The 2009 figure includes firearms stolen during an

aggravated burglary at the home of a firearms dealer in Tipperary in January 2009.

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