Control of Firearms
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-02
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PJ Murphy (FG), Agricultural Panel

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, to the House and take this opportunity to congratulate her on her recent appointment. I wish her all the best in her new role.
I raise an issue of significant concern to many law-abiding firearm licenceholders throughout rural Ireland. Ireland has approximately 150,000 firearm licenceholders, accounting for more than 210,000 licensed firearms. Firearms ownership is tightly regulated and Ireland's licensing regime is widely regarded as one of the most stringent in Europe. While many firearms certificates are processed efficiently, concerns continue to be reported across the country regarding inconsistencies in interpretation and implementation of the licensing system. These concerns include lost or misplaced applications; delays in processing; additional documentation requirements that go way beyond the published guidelines; applicants being told they own too many firearms, despite meeting the legal requirements; and the failure to provide formal refusal letters outlining the reasons for decisions. These inconsistencies undermine confidence in the system and create unnecessary uncertainty for responsible licenceholders who are simply seeking to comply with the law.
There are also concerns regarding the stakeholder engagement process established by the Department. At a recent meeting in Kilmainham, concerns relating to inconsistencies in firearms licensing were reportedly ruled out of order. If issues regarding the day-to-day operation of licensing systems cannot be discussed at the appropriate forum, it is difficult to know where they can be discussed, other than on the floor of this House. I understand a further phase of stakeholder engagement is planned for the coming months. Will the Minister of State confirm that concerns relating to inconsistencies in the interpretation and implementation of firearms licensing, which stakeholders report were ruled out of order during the first phase of engagement, will specifically be included in the next phase? I also ask her to review the structure of the forum. There remains uncertainty regarding its remit, membership and representation, and it appears many participants attend in an individual capacity rather than as representatives of recognised national organisations.
These concerns were reinforced at a recent briefing in the audiovisual room in Leinster House, hosted by the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, and the Firearms Users Representative Group, FURG, which was well attended by Members from across the political divide and from all parties. It provided an opportunity to hear directly from firearms users affected by these issues.
As the holder of a number of licensed firearms, a lover of rural pursuits and chairman of my local gun club, in Ardrahan, County Galway, I acknowledge the work of the NARGC, which is the umbrella body for all the small gun clubs right around the country, and FURG, both of which have consistently highlighted the concerns of licensed firearm users across Ireland.
I ask the Minister of State, as a matter of urgency, to meet representatives of FURG and the NARGC, the largest rural pursuits membership organisation in the country and the second-largest sports organisation in Ireland in terms of membership after the GAA, to hear directly from them regarding the challenges facing licensed firearms holders and to ensure their concerns are reflected in future policy decisions. The 150,000 licensed firearms holders in this country deserve a fair, consistent and transparent licensing system, meaningful engagement with the Government and a voice in decisions that may significantly affect their activities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-02/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-02