Senator: 'Licensed firearms users should have voice on regulation'
Fine Gael Senator, Eileen Lynch has said that licensed firearms users are important stakeholders, who should have a voice when it comes to debates and discussions on firearms regulation in Ireland.
Speaking in the Seanad about the control of firearms, the senator claimed that licensed firearms use is important to economic, social and cultural life of rural Ireland.
The senator called on the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Colm Brophy to commit to meeting firearms users, and to further commit to establishing a new stakeholder forum for licensed firearms holders.
Senator Lynch said: "12 months ago, rural stakeholder groups were told by the department that the need for more regular and structured engagement between policymakers and firearms users would be explored. A year later, there has still been zero progress on this.
"The firearms users group, has come together to develop proposals, for example, a membership structure and terms of references for a new permanent stakeholders forum for licensed firearms holders."
"Rural firearms users should have a seat at the table and, in this case, the first job is to bring back the table and allow discussions to happen," she added.
According to Senator Lynch, proposals have been submitted to the Department of Justice, and to the new minister. The groups are still awaiting a response.
Minister Brophy told the Seanad that the department works closely with the firearms policy unit of An Garda Síochána, which is responsible for licensing firearms holders.
He also claims that his department and An Garda Síochána, have hosted three regional firearms forums, which took place in February (2025).
According to the minister, a non-statutory advisory body, called the firearms expert committee, was established in 2022 to provide guidance on matters related to firearms licensing.
Following the delivery of the committee's report in March 2023, a consultation was launched online that May.
This was to ensure that stakeholder organisations and their members could engage fully in this consultation process.
Minister Brophy said: "Prior to all of this, a non-statutory forum called the firearms consultative panel (FCP) was established. The panel comprised various firearms interest groups.
"The panel last met in 2019, when it is understood a breakdown in relations between some of the major firearms interest groups occurred. This meant that it was not possible for any further meetings to take place."
"It remains the intention of the minister that any proposed changes to policy will be subject to prior consultation with firearms stakeholders," he added.
