436. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the mechanisms that were put in place to allow United States Secret Service operatives to carry firearms during President Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland. [66877/26]

High-level visits to Ireland are of significant importance in the development and maintenance of our relations with other states.

Irish law has strict controls governing the issuing of firearm certificates by An Garda Síochána and stringent conditions on the holding of firearms. Since the commencement of the Firearms Act 1925, any person in possession of a firearm must be in possession of a firearms certificate for that firearm.

With regard to the mechanisms that were put in place to allow United States Secret Service operatives to carry firearms during President Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland earlier this month, under section 2 of the Firearms (Firearms Certificate for Non-Residents) Act 2000, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has the power to grant firearms certificates, including to official security personnel from other jurisdictions, where it is deemed necessary to do so. Decisions in relation to the grant of certificates to such personnel are made in accordance with the legislation and following consultation with the Garda authorities. This is a normal and established feature of relations between states.

It would not be appropriate to comment further on the detail of operational security arrangements.