Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made to date to establish a firearms licensing authority following her announcement on this matter in Dáil Éireann in September 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2510/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Tánaiste announced her intention to make fundamental long term reforms of firearms licensing by establishing a new Firearms Assessment and Appeals Authority. The primary function of the Authority will be to determine, on the basis of an objective assessment of all the issues, with safety of the public being paramount, whether particular forms of firearms may be licensed in the State, whether there should be any limit on the number of such firearms and what safety conditions might properly be applied to their licensing. The functions of the Authority will be subject to further consultation in advance of the preparation of the necessary enabling legislation, which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

A range of submissions have been received from interested bodies in relation to the shape of the proposed authority. I am in consultation with the Garda Commissioner in relation to those proposals. When that consultation has concluded proposals for changes to the firearms licensing regime will be the subject of consultation with stakeholders to ensure a robust system for access to firearms where public safety is paramount.