Ireland’s leading shooting and countryside organisations have come together under the Umbrella of the ‘Firearms Users Representative Group’ (FURG).
Statement below is issued by the Firearms Users Representative Group’ (FURG)
Ireland’s leading shooting and countryside organisations have come together under the
Umbrella of the ‘Firearms Users Representative Group’ (FURG).
FURG was established to address the widespread concern and direction of the “Firearms
Expert Committee” (FEC) was taking, and its continued lack of consultation with firearms
users and their representatives. There is also growing concern regarding increasing
bureaucracy and unnecessary delays within the firearms licencing process, inconsistency in
application of firearms law, and the perceived exercise of personal views by Garda
Superintendents involved in firearms licencing. Recently the Gardai do not seem to know
what they are doing in relation to telescopic scopes.
We have been informed (16.3.2023) by the Department of Justice, that they will not meet us, and they are going to produce their Report without any input from us or indeed any ‘user’.
The FEC was formed by the Department of Justice in June 2022 to carry out a comprehensive
and potentially far-reaching review of firearms licencing in Ireland. For example, the
committee has been tasked with making recommendations on which types of firearms
should be licensable in the future, whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to
limit the locations where firearms can be used or the purpose for which they may be used.
FEC has also been tasked with making recommendations on whether there should be a limit
on the number and type of firearms a person may hold.
FURG groups and their members have not received equitable or fair treatment in this
process, and this is as a direct result of the manner Minister for state James Brown has set
up this FEC, and this process generally.
A spokesperson for the FURG said: “Members of our respective organisations are genuinely
concerned about the issues being discussed by the Firearms Expert Committee, without any
input from any shooting representatives which could have significant implications for
shooting sports. We will insist that our members concerns are heard during this process and
will strongly oppose any attempt to unfairly restrict shooting sports.”
All the Member of the FURG organisations are asked to become active on this as follows ;
• Contact your local Councillors, TD’s, Senator’s, MEP’s, and ask them to contact James
Brown, Minister for state in the Department of Justice, to give Firearm owners like
you fair and equitable treatment in this process, and follow up with them to make
sure it’s done.
• Bring this to the attention of all your club members, friends, and particularly the
farmers in your area. Raise the awareness in the rural community of the way this
government is treating rural Ireland yet again
Firearms Users Representative Group (FURG) member organisations include, National Association of Regional Game Councils, Country Sports Ireland. FACE Ireland, Irish Deer Society, Irish Deer Commission, Wild Deer Association of Ireland, Deer Alliance HCAP, Countryside Alliance (Ireland), Irish Firearms Dealers’ Association, Irish Clay Target Shooting
Association, National Association of Sporting Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Irish Country Sports
Association, Precision Rifles Ireland
Draft letter for your Political Representative – CLICK ON THE LINK Letter to Political Representatives – Draft
Email addresses for Oireachtas Members – CLICK HERE
For further details on how to apply for IDC membership CLICK HERE