98 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice the number of shotgun certificates issued in each Garda district in the year 1993 in accordance with the provision of the Firearms Act, 1925, showing an endorsement under the Wildlife Act, 1976, to out-of-State shooters; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Firearm certificates for shotguns are issued to non-residents by the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works, on behalf of my Department. The statistics available from the Wildlife Service are as follows: 1993 — (a) Number of certificates, 3,856; (b) Number of second or subsequent certificates, 956.

In the case of all certificates at (a) the Wildlife Service also endorse a licence under the Wildlife Act, 1976 on the certificate for the hunting of protected wild birds and hare.