102 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in making a decision to return a firearm to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the firearm in question was surrendered to the Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the Firearms (Temporary Custody) Order, 1972 (S.I. No. 187 of 1972). This Order required, in the interest of public safety, that every person residing in the State should, on or before 5 August 1972, surrender to the Gardaí any pistol or revolver or any rifled firearm of a calibre greater than .22 inches and any ammunition for such firearms. Since then it has been Garda policy not to issue firearm certificates in respect of such weapons.

I am aware that the Garda authorities have made exceptions to this policy in respect of a small number of persons involved in deer culling to whom certificates for higher calibre rifles have been issued. The Garda authorities have informed me that they have recently conducted a review of the circumstances under which such certificates are to be issued and that when consideration of that review is finalised the application of the person referred to by the Deputy will be dealt with.