Licensed firearms, namely shotguns and rifles, have an important place in rural Ireland from their use in controlling vermin and predators to their use in protecting crops, livestock and poultry. Many of the groups representing licensed firearms users have expressed concerns about inconsistencies in the interpretation and implementation of firearms legislation. In 2016 a firearms consultative panel was established which brought together a number of groups including the Irish Farmers Association and the National Association of Regional Game Councils, but this panel has not met since 2019. It is my understanding that the Department is currently holding a series of meetings with individuals and experts. This is not the permanent forum for national representative groups that the leading organisations want. Will the Government consider reinstating the permanent forum for national representative groups advocating on behalf of licensed firearms users?

I thank Deputy Clendennen for his question. This is an issue, as he rightly says, that has been discussed for quite a number of years. A consultative panel was established, as he says, in 2016. I understand that the Department of Justice is holding meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with various firearms stakeholders in other ways, while An Garda Síochána also meets with stakeholder organisations. The firearms consultative panel was a non-statutory forum comprising various firearms interest groups.

It last met in 2019. There was a breakdown in relations between some of the major firearms interest groups represented on the panel and the Department viewed that it was not possible for meetings to take place with all groups represented. One of the issues raised during the course of the engagements was the need for more regular and structured engagement between policymakers and firearms users. I understand the Department organised a series of engagements earlier this year. In February, three national forums were held with registered firearms dealers in Wicklow, Limerick and Carrick-on-Shannon, while a further two were held with firearms owners in Mullingar on 19 June. A new forum has been established by the Department involving more than 20 representatives of the shooting community and shooting stakeholder organisations. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to specifically consider the proposals the Deputy has made and whether any further action can be taken in that regard.