Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21505/23]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy, that I established the Firearms Expert Committee (FEC) on a non-statutory basis with representation from stakeholders, my Department and An Garda Síochána.

The purpose of the FEC was to serve in an advisory capacity to me as Minister, providing guidance on a wide range of matters related to firearms licensing in the State. In line with its comprehensive terms of reference, which were made publicly available, the FEC was tasked with making recommendations on a range of firearms matters for my subsequent consideration, including carrying out an assessment of all types of firearms to determine their current use under the existing licensing system and their suitability for future licensing.

The FEC was made up of five members: an independent Chairperson, a representative of An Garda Síochána, a representative of the Department of Justice, and two non-governmental Ordinary Members having experience of firearms. This structure was chosen to give balanced representation to both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in this consultative committee process.

It was fully expected the Committee Members would present their views and engage in robust discussions while formulating their recommendations. Readers of the report will see that not all of the Committee’s recommendations were made unanimously, nor was it expected that this would be the case.

The FEC's recommendations represent the expert views of the Committee’s Members within that process. I am informed that one Committee Member informed the Chair that he was withdrawing his support for the report's contents after the report had been submitted to me.

The Deputy may be aware that the final meeting of the FEC took place on 3 March 2023 and that I received the final reports from the FEC which I published on Friday, 31 March 2023 on Gov.ie.

Alongside the FEC’s reports, in order to ensure transparency in this process, I also published the minutes of each of the FEC's meetings in line with previous commitments to stakeholders.

As I have emphasised throughout the process, any proposed changes to policy or legislation arising from any of the recommendations of the FEC will be subject to prior consultation with firearms stakeholders.

I can inform the Deputy, that on the 5 May, 2023, I launched the FEC consultation online on Gov.ie. This will ensure that stakeholder organisations, and their members, can engage fully in this consultation process. I would encourage as many people and organisations as possible to engage with this process to make their views known. I have also sought written submissions on the recommendations of the FEC from a range of stakeholder organisations, including the one referred to by the Deputy, and intend to meet with such groups having received their written submissions and following the conclusion of the wider public consultation.