Firearms Act 1925

Firearms training certificate.

2A

2A.— (1) The Commissioner, on application and payment of the prescribed fee (if any), may issue to a person over 14 years of age a certificate (in this Act referred to as a “firearms training certificate”) authorising the person to possess a firearm and ammunition (except a restricted firearm and restricted ammunition F30[or a firearm to which section 2D(2) F31[…] applies and ammunition for such a firearm]) only while—

(a) carrying and using the firearm for hunting or target shooting—

(i) under the supervision of a specified person over 18 years of age who holds a firearm certificate in respect of it, and

(ii) where the firearm is used for target shooting, on the premises of an authorised rifle or pistol club or at an authorised shooting range or other place that stands authorised under section 2(5) of this Act,

and

(b) complying with such other conditions (if any) as the Commissioner may impose in the interests of public safety and security.

(2) Where the applicant is under 16 years of age, the application for a firearms training certificate shall be accompanied by the written consent of the applicant’s parent or guardian.

(3) The firearms training certificate shall be in the prescribed form.

(4) Where such an application is refused, the Commissioner shall inform the applicant in writing and give the reasons for the refusal.

(5) A firearms training certificate shall continue in force for a period of 3 years from the date on which it was granted, unless revoked.

(6) The Commissioner may revoke a firearms training certificate if of opinion that the holder is not complying, or has not complied, with the conditions subject to which the certificate was granted.

(7) A holder of a firearms training certificate who, without reasonable excuse, does not comply with the conditions subject to which the certificate was granted is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction—

(a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding €500, and

(b) for any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding €1,000.

(8) It is an offence under this Act for the holder of a firearm certificate in respect of the firearm to which the firearms training certificate relates to permit, without reasonable excuse, the holder of that certificate to carry or use the firearm while not under his or her supervision.

Annotations

Amendments:

F29

Inserted (1.08.2009) by Criminal Justice Act 2006 (26/2006), s. 28, S.I. No. 309 of 2009. A fine of €500 translates into a class E fine not exceeding €500 as provided (4.01.2011) by Fines Act 2010 (8/2010), ss. 3, 8(3) and table ref. no. 1, S.I. No. 662 of 2010. A fine of €1,000 translates into a class D fine not exceeding €1,000 as provided (4.01.2011) by Fines Act 2010 (8/2010), ss. 3, 7(3) and table ref. no. 1, S.I. No. 662 of 2010.

F30

Inserted (1.09.2019) by European Communities (Acquisition and Possession Of Weapons And Ammunition) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 420 of 2019), reg. 10(c), in effect as per reg. 1(2).

F31

Deleted (27.04.2022) by European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 34(b).

Modifications (not altering text):

C10

Requirements for application for firearms training or firearm certificate in respect of certain firearms provided (27.04.2022) by European Union (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 209 of 2022), reg. 11.

Application for firearms training certificate or firearm certificate in respect of firearm to which Directive applies

11. (1) An application for a firearms training certificate in respect of a firearm to which the Directive applies shall, where the applicant is under 18 years of age, be accompanied by the written consent of the applicant’s parent or guardian.

(2) The Commissioner shall not issue a firearms training certificate in respect of a firearm to which the Directive applies to an applicant unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the possession and use of the firearm is not likely to be a danger to the applicant himself or herself.

(3) An application for a firearm certificate in respect of a firearm to which the Directive applies shall, where the applicant is under 18 years of age, be accompanied by the written consent of the applicant’s parent or guardian.

(4) An issuing person shall not grant a firearm certificate in respect of a firearm to which the Directive applies to an applicant unless the issuing person is satisfied that the possession and use of the firearm is not likely to be a danger to the applicant himself or herself.