Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been three successful appeals to pistol licence refusals by Garda chief superintendents and that the judgments have all been similar in their findings; if, in view of this, he will issue guidelines to the Garda Commissioner to apply the law in accordance with these judgments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10323/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There have been a number of cases where appeals of licensing decisions of the kind referred to by the Deputy have been upheld, and indeed a number where they have not. In any event, I am advised that I cannot intervene in licensing decisions in the manner envisaged by the Deputy. Under the law, the Chief Superintendent is "persona designata" for the purposes of deciding whether or not to grant a firearm certificate.