an bille um cheartas coiriu´ il (fora´ lacha ilghne

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AN BILLE UM CHEARTAS COIRIUIL (FORALACHAILGHNEITHEACHA) 2009

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS)BILL 2009

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Mar a leasaıodh sa Roghchoiste um Dhlı agus Ceart,Comhionannas, Cosaint agus Cearta na mBan

As amended in the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defenceand Women’s Rights

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Expenses.

PART 2

Amendments to European Arrest Warrant Act 2003

4. Amendments to section 2 of Act of 2003.






10. Amendment to section 14 of Act of 2003.





[No. 29a of 2009]





19. Deletion of section 40 of Act of 2003.

20. New sections 45 to 45C of Act of 2003.

PART 3

Schengen Information System

21. Interpretation.

22. Exchange of Information for purposes of Council Decisionand Schengen Convention.

23. Data Protection.

24. Amendments to section 27 of Extradition Act 1965.

PART 4

Amendment of Firearms Acts

25. Amendments to section 1 of Principal Act.

26. Amendment to section 2 of Principal Act.

27. New section 2C of Principal Act.

28. Amendment to section 3 of Principal Act.

29. Amendment to section 3A of Principal Act.

30. New sections 3B, 3C and 3D of Principal Act.

31. Amendment to section 4B of Principal Act.

32. New section 4C of Principal Act.

33. New section 9A of Principal Act.

34. New section 17 of Principal Act.


36. Repeal of section 21 of Act of 1964.


38. New sections 9A to 9I of Act of 1990.




2

42. Repeal of section 40 of Act of 2006.

PART 5

Miscellaneous


44. New section 2A of Act of 1857.

45. Amendment to section 4 of Criminal Justice Act 1984.

46. New section 21A of Criminal Justice Act 1984.

47. Amendment of Bail Act 1997.



50. Amendment to section 99 of Criminal Justice Act 2006.

51. Amendment to Regulation 12 of Criminal Justice Act 1984(Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda SıochanaStations) Regulations 1987.

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Acts Referred to

Bail Act 1997 1997, No. 16

Children Act 2001 2001, No. 24

Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 1961, No. 39

Criminal Justice Act 1984 1984, No. 22





Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 1997, No. 4

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 2005, No. 2

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 2001, No. 50

Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003

European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 2003, No. 49

Extradition Act 1965 1965, No. 17

Extradition (Amendment) Act 1994 1994, No. 6

Extradition (European Conventions) Act 2001 2001, No. 49

Finance Act 2002 2002, No. 5

Firearms Act 1925 1925, No. 17



Firearms Acts 1925 to 2006

Firearms Acts 1925 to 2007

Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 1990, No. 12

Firearms (Firearms Certificates for Non-Residents) Act2000 2000, No. 20

Firearms (Proofing) Act 1968 1968, No. 20

Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998

Prisons Act 2007 2007, No. 10

Summary Jurisdiction Act 1857 20 & 21 Vic. c. 43

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 1997, No. 39

Wildlife Act 1976 1976, No. 39

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AN BILLE UM CHEARTAS COIRIUIL (FORALACHAILGHNEITHEACHA) 2009

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS)BILL 2009

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BILL5

entitled

AN ACT TO GIVE FURTHER EFFECT TO THE COUNCILFRAMEWORK DECISION OF 13 JUNE 2002 ON THEEUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT AND THE SURREN-DER PROCEDURES BETWEEN MEMBER STATES, AND10TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE COUNCIL DECISION2007/533/JHA OF 12 JUNE 2007 ON THE ESTABLISH-MENT, OPERATION AND USE OF THE SECOND GEN-ERATION SCHENGEN INFORMATION SYSTEM, ANDFOR THOSE AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE15EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003, EXTENDTHE APPLICATION OF THE DATA PROTECTION ACTS1988 AND 2003 AND AMEND THE EXTRADITION ACT1965, TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THE REGU-LATION AND CONTROL OF FIREARMS AND AMMU-20NITION AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES TOAMEND THE FIREARMS ACTS 1925 TO 2007, TOAMEND CERTAIN OTHER ENACTMENTS AND TOPROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:25

PART 1

Preliminary and General

1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the30Minister may, by order or orders either generally or with referenceto any particular purpose or provision, appoint and different daysmay be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

2.—In this Act—

“Act of 1857” means the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1857;35

5

Short title andcommencement.

Interpretation.

Expenses.

Amendments tosection 2 of Act of2003.

“Act of 1964” means the Firearms Act 1964;

“Act of 1990” means the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990;

“Act of 2000” means the Firearms (Firearm Certificates for Non-Residents) Act 2000;

“Act of 2001” means the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud 5Offences) Act 2001;

“Act of 2003” means the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003;

“Act of 2006” means the Criminal Justice Act 2006;

“Firearms Acts” means the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2007;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law 10Reform;

“Principal Act” means the Firearms Act 1925.

3.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administrationof this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Ministerfor Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. 15

PART 2

Amendments to European Arrest Warrant Act 2003

4.—Section 2 of the Act of 2003 is hereby amended in subsection(1)—

(a) by the insertion of the following definitions after the 20definition of “Act of 2001”:

“ ‘alert’ means an alert entered in the SIS for the arrestand surrender, on foot of a European arrest warrant, ofthe person named therein;”,

(b) by the insertion of the following definition after the defini- 25tion of “Central Authority in the State”:

“ ‘Council Decision’ means Council Decision2007/533/JHA of 12 June 2007 on the establishment, oper-ation and use of the second generation Schengen Infor-mation System;”, 30

(c) by the deletion of the definition of “facsimile copy”, and

(d) by the insertion of the following definitions after thedefinition of ‘Minister’:

“ ‘Schengen Convention’ means the Convention imple-menting the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 35between the Governments of the States of the BeneluxEconomic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany andthe French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks attheir common borders done at Schengen on 19 June 1990and includes any amendment to or modification of that 40Convention whether before or after the passing of this Actbut does not include the Council Decision;

6

‘SIS’ means the system referred to in Title IV of theSchengen Convention or, as appropriate, the system estab-lished under Chapter 1 of the Council Decision;”.

5.—Section 4 of the Act of 2003 is hereby amended—

(a) in subsection (1) by the substitution for “(1) Subject to5subsections (2) and (3), this” of “This”, and

(b) by the deletion of subsections (2) and (3).

6.—Section 10 (as inserted by section 71 of the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) of the Act of 2003 is herebyamended—10

(a) by the deletion of the word “duly”,

(b) in paragraph (c) by the insertion after “offence” of “inthat state”,

(c) in paragraph (d)—

(i) by the insertion after “imposed” of “in that state”,15and

(ii) by the deletion of the following words:

“and who fled from the issuing state before he orshe—

(i) commenced serving that sentence, or20

(ii) completed serving that sentence”.

7.—Section 11 (as amended by section 72 of the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) of the Act of 2003 is herebyamended—

(a) in subsection (1A) by the substitution in paragraph (e) for25“the offence” of “one of the offences to which the Euro-pean arrest warrant relates”,

(b) in subsection (2) by the substitution of “(1A)” for “(1)” inthe second place that it occurs, and

(c) by the substitution for subsection (2A) of the following:30

“(2A) If any of the information to which subsection(1A) (inserted by section 72(a) of the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) refers is not specified in theEuropean arrest warrant, it may be specified in a separ-ate document.”.35

8.—Section 12 (as amended by section 73 of the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) of the Act of 2003 is herebyamended—

(a) in subsection (3)—

7






Amendment tosection 14 of Act of2003.

(i) by the insertion after “this Act” of “or any otherdocument to be transmitted for the purposes of thisAct”, and

(ii) by the substitution for paragraph (b) of the follow-ing paragraph: 5

“(b) any means capable of producing a writtenrecord under conditions allowing the Cen-tral Authority in the State to establish itsauthenticity.”,

(b) by the deletion of subsections (4), (5), (6) and (7), and 10

(c) in subsection (9) by the deletion of the words “facsimilecopy or”.


(a) in subsection (1) by the deletion of the words “facsimilecopy or”, 15

(b) in subsection (2) by the deletion of paragraph (b), and

(c) in subsection (3) by the deletion of the words “the fac-simile copy of the warrant or” and “, facsimile copy”.

10.—Section 14 of the Act of 2003 is amended by the substitutionfor that section of the following: 20

“Arrestwithoutwarrant forsurrenderpurposes.

14.—(1) A member of the Garda Sıochana mayarrest any person without a warrant that themember believes, on reasonable grounds, to be aperson named in an alert.

(2) A person arrested under this section shall, 25upon his or her arrest, be informed, in ordinarylanguage, of the reason for the arrest and of his orher right to—

(a) obtain or be provided with professionallegal advice and representation, and 30

(b) where appropriate, obtain or be pro-vided with the services of aninterpreter.

(3) A person arrested under this section shall,as soon as may be after his or her arrest— 35

(a) be furnished with a copy of the alert,and

(b) be brought before the High Court,which court shall, if satisfied that he orshe is the person named in the alert— 40

(i) inform the person of his or herright to—

8

(I) obtain or be provided withprofessional legal advice andrepresentation, and

(II) where appropriate, obtain orbe provided with the services5of an interpreter,

and

(ii) remand the person in custody or, atits discretion, on bail for a periodnot exceeding 14 days (and for10that purpose the High Court shallhave the same powers in relationto remand as it would have if theperson were brought before itcharged with an indictable15offence) for production to theHigh Court of the Europeanarrest warrant on foot of whichthe alert was entered.

(4) Where, in respect of a person remanded in20custody or on bail under subsection (3), a Euro-pean arrest warrant is transmitted to the CentralAuthority in the State pursuant to section 12—

(a) that person shall be brought before theHigh Court as soon as may be,25

(b) the European arrest warrant shall beproduced to the High Court,

(c) a copy shall be given to that person, and

(d) the High Court, if satisfied that the pro-visions of this Act have been complied30with and that the person before it is theperson in respect of whom the Euro-pean arrest warrant was issued, shall—

(i) inform the person of his or herright to consent to being surren-35dered to the issuing state undersection 15, and

(ii) if the person does not exercise hisor her right to consent under para-graph (i)—40

(I) remand the person in custodyor on bail (and for that pur-pose the High Court shallhave the same powers inrelation to remand as it would45have if the person werebrought before it chargedwith an indictable offence),and

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(II) fix a date for the purposes ofsection 16 within the periodof 21 days next following.

(5) Where, in respect of a person remanded incustody or on bail under subsection (3), the Euro- 5pean arrest warrant is not produced on the datefixed by the Court for the purpose under that sub-section the person shall be released fromcustody.”.

11.—Section 15 (as amended by section 75 of the Criminal Justice 10(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) is hereby amended—

(a) in subsection (1)(a) by the deletion of the words “facsim-ile or”,

(b) in subsection (2)(a) by the substitution for “facsimile ortrue copies” of “a true copy”, 15

(c) by the insertion after subsection (3) of the following newsubsection:

“(3A) An appeal against an order under this section ora decision not to make such an order may be brought inthe Supreme Court if, and only if, the High Court certifies 20that the order or decision involves a point of law of excep-tional public importance and that it is desirable in thepublic interest that an appeal should be taken to theSupreme Court.”,

(d) in subsection (5) by the insertion after “subsection (6)” of 25“, subsection (7)”,

(e) by the substitution for subsection (6) of the following:

“(6) Where a person—

(a) appeals an order made under this section, or

(b) makes a complaint under Article 40.4.2 of the 30Constitution,

he or she shall not be surrendered to the issuing state whileproceedings relating to the appeal or complaint arepending.”,

(f) by the substitution for subsection (7) of the following: 35

“(7) Where a person (to whom an order for the timebeing in force under this section applies) is not surren-dered to the issuing state within the relevant period speci-fied in subsection (5) and the surrender is not prohibitedby reason of subsection (6) the High Court may remand 40the person in custody or on bail for such further period asis necessary to effect the surrender unless it considers itwould be unjust or oppressive to do so.”,

and

(g) by the substitution for subsection (9) of the following: 45

10

“(9) Where a person lodges an appeal pursuant to sub-section (3A), the High Court may remand the person incustody or on bail pending the hearing of the appeal and,for that purpose, the High Court shall have the samepowers in relation to remand as it would have if the person5were brought before it charged with an indictableoffence.”.

12.—Section 16 (as amended by section 76 of the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) of the Act of 2003 is herebyamended—10

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) by the deletion of the words “or has withdrawn his orher consent under section 15(9)”, and

(ii) by the deletion from paragraphs (b) and (c) of thewords “facsimile or”,15

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) by the deletion of “or has withdrawn his or her con-sent under section 15(9)”, and

(ii) in paragraph (a) thereof by the deletion of “orfacsimile”,20

(c) in subsection (5) by the insertion after “subsection (6)” of“, subsection (7)”,

(d) by the substitution for subsection (6) of the following:

“(6) Where a person—

(a) appeals an order made under this section, or25

(b) makes a complaint under Article 40.4.2 of theConstitution,

he or she shall not be surrendered to the issuing state whileproceedings relating to the appeal or complaint arepending.”,30

(e) by the substitution for subsection (7) of the following:

“(7) Where a person (to whom an order for the timebeing in force under this section applies) is not surren-dered to the issuing state within the relevant period speci-fied in subsection (5) and the surrender is not prohibited35by reason of subsection (6) the High Court may remandthe person in custody or on bail for such further period asis necessary to effect the surrender unless it considers itwould be unjust or oppressive to do so.”,

(f) in subsection (12) by the substitution for “on a point of40law only.” of “if, and only if, the High Court certifies thatthe order or decision involves a point of law of excep-tional public importance and that it is desirable in thepublic interest that an appeal should be taken to theSupreme Court.”, and45

11





(g) by the insertion of the following new subsection after sub-section (12):

“(13) Where a person lodges an appeal pursuant to sub-section (12), the High Court may remand the person incustody or on bail pending the hearing of the appeal and, 5for that purpose, the High Court shall have the samepowers in relation to remand as it would have if the personwere brought before it charged with an indictableoffence.”.

13.—Section 18 (as amended by section 77 of the Criminal Justice 10(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005) of the Act of 2003 is herebyamended—

(a) by the substitution for subsection (3) of the followingsubsection:

“(3) Subject to section 19, where a person to whom an 15order under section 15 or 16 applies—

(a) is being proceeded against for an offence in theState, or

(b) (i) has been sentenced to a term of imprison-ment for an offence of which he or she was 20convicted in the State, and

(ii) is required to serve all or part of that termof imprisonment,

the High Court may direct the postponementof that person’s surrender to the issuing state 25until—

(I) in the case of a person who is being pro-ceeded against for an offence, the date ofthe final determination of those pro-ceedings (where he or she is not required 30to serve a term of imprisonment), or

(II) in the case of a person who is required toserve all or part of a term of imprison-ment, the date on which he or she is nolonger required to serve any part of that 35term of imprisonment.”,

and

(b) in subsection (4) by the substitution for “subsection (3)(i)or (ii)” of “subsection (3)(b)(I) or (II)”.

14.—Section 20 of the Act of 2003 is hereby amended in subsection 40(3) by the insertion after “affidavit” of “, declaration, affirmation,attestation”.

15.—Section 29 of the Act of 2003 is hereby amended by thedeletion of “neither of which or not all of which, as the case may be,have been issued by the same issuing state,”. 45

12


(a) by the substitution for subsection (1)(a) of the followingsubsection:

“(1) A court may, upon an application made by or onbehalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, issue a Euro-5pean arrest warrant in respect of a person where it is satis-fied that—

(a) a domestic warrant has been issued for thearrest of that person but has not beenexecuted, and10

(b) the person may not be in the State, and”,

(b) in subsection (1)(b)(i) by the insertion of “or detention”after “imprisonment”,

(c) in subsection (1)(b)(ii) by the insertion of “or detention”after “imprisonment” in each place where it occurs, and15

(d) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsec-tion (1):

“(1A) Where a court issues a European arrest warrantin respect of a person under this section, such issue shallbe deemed to constitute a request by the court for entry20of an alert and of a copy of the European arrest warrantin respect of that person.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1), where amember of the Garda Sıochana not below the rank ofSergeant states that he or she believes that a person is not25in the State, the statement is admissible as evidence thatthe person is not in the State.”.

17.—Section 38 of the Act of 2003 is hereby amended in subsection(1)(b) by the deletion of “or is an offence that consists of conductspecified in the paragraph,”.30

18.—The Act of 2003 is hereby amended in section 34 by the sub-stitution for “shall” of “may”.

19.—The Act of 2003 is hereby amended by the deletion ofsection 40.

20.—The Act of 2003 is hereby amended—35

(a) by the substitution for section 45 of the following section:

“Personsconvicted inabsentia.

45.—A person shall not be surrenderedunder this Act if—

(a) he or she was not present whenhe or she was tried for and con-40victed of the offence specified inthe European arrest warrant,and

13




Deletion of section40 of Act of 2003.

New sections 45 to45C of Act of 2003.

(b) (i) he or she was not notified ofthe time when, and place atwhich, he or she would betried for the offence, or

(ii) he or she was not permitted 5to attend the trial in respectof the offence concerned,

unless the issuing judicial auth-ority gives an undertaking inwriting that the person will, 10upon being surrendered—

(I) be retried for that offence orbe given the opportunity ofa retrial in respect of thatoffence, 15

(II) be notified of the time when,and place at which anyretrial in respect of theoffence concerned will takeplace, and 20

(III) be permitted to be presentwhen any such retrialtakes place.”,

and

(b) by the insertion of the following new sections after 25section 45:

“Identificationprocedures.

45A.—(1) Where a member of theGarda Sıochana arrests a person under anypower conferred by this Act, the memberof the Garda Sıochana may, in order to 30assist in verifying or ascertaining his or heridentity for the purpose of proceedingsunder this Act and for no other purpose—

(a) take, or cause to be taken, his orher fingerprint, 35

(b) take, or cause to be taken, his orher palm print,

(c) photograph him or her or causehim or her to be photographed.

(2) Where a fingerprint, palm print or 40photograph taken pursuant to subsection(1) is lost or damaged, or is otherwiseunsuitable for use for the purpose referredto in that subsection, it may be taken on asecond or any further occasion. 45

(3) The powers conferred by subsection(1) shall not be exercised except on theauthority of a member of the Garda Sıoch-ana not below the rank of inspector.

14

(4) A member of the Garda Sıochanamay, where a person fails or refuses toallow his or her fingerprint, palm print orphotograph to be taken pursuant to subsec-tion (1), use such force as he or she reason-5ably considers necessary to take the finger-print, palm print or photograph or to causethe photograph to be taken.

(5) (a) The powers conferred by subsec-tion (4) shall not be exercised10except on the authority of amember of the Garda Sıochananot below the rank ofsuperintendent.

(b) An authorization pursuant to15paragraph (a) may be givenorally or in writing and if givenorally shall be confirmed inwriting as soon as practicable.

(6) Where a member of the Garda20Sıochana intends to exercise a power con-ferred by subsection (4), he or she shallinform the person—

(a) of that intention, and

(b) that an authorization to do so has25been given pursuant to subsec-tion (5)(a).

(7) Every fingerprint, palm print orphotograph taken pursuant to subsection(4) shall be taken in the presence of a30member of the Garda Sıochana not belowthe rank of inspector.

(8) The taking of every fingerprint, palmprint or photograph pursuant to subsection(4) shall be video-recorded.35

(9) Every fingerprint, palm print orphotograph of a person taken in pursuanceof a power conferred by this section andevery copy and record thereof shall bedestroyed within the period of 12 months40from the date of the taking of the finger-print, palm print or photograph, as the casemay be, or on the conclusion of proceedingsunder this Act in relation to the person,whichever occurs later.45

(10) A person who obstructs a memberof the Garda Sıochana in exercise of thepowers under this section shall be guilty ofan offence and shall, on summary convic-tion, be liable to a fine not exceeding \5,00050or to imprisonment for a term notexceeding 12 months or to both.

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(11) Where a fingerprint, palm print orphotograph of a person to whom a Euro-pean arrest warrant relates is transmittedby or on behalf of an issuing judicial auth-ority, such fingerprint, palm print or photo- 5graph shall be received in evidence withoutfurther proof.

Transfer ofpersons tostate fromwhichsurrendered.

45B.—(1) Where a national or residentof another state from which he or she issurrendered— 10

(a) is surrendered to the State pursu-ant to a European arrest war-rant with a view to being pros-ecuted in the State, and

(b) whose surrender is subject to the 15condition that he or she, afterbeing so prosecuted, is returnedif he or she so consents to thatother state in order to serve anycustodial sentence or detention 20order imposed upon him or herin the State,

the Minister shall, following the final deter-mination of the proceedings and if the per-son consents, issue a warrant for the 25transfer of the person from the State to thatother state in order to serve there any cus-todial sentence or detention order soimposed.

(2) A warrant issued under subsection 30(1) shall authorise—

(a) the taking of the person to aplace in any part of the Stateand his or her delivery at aplace of departure from the 35State into the custody of a per-son authorized by the otherstate to receive the person, forconveyance to the other stateconcerned, and the keeping of 40the person in custody until thedelivery is effected, and

(b) the removal of the person con-cerned, by the person to whomhe or she is delivered, from the 45State.

(3) Where a warrant has been issued inrespect of a person under this section, theperson shall be deemed to be in legal cus-tody at any time when he or she is being 50taken under the warrant to or from anyplace or being kept in custody under thewarrant and, if the person escapes or isunlawfully at large, he or she shall be liable

16

to be retaken in the same manner as anyperson who escapes from lawful custody.

(4) The Minister may designate any per-son as a person who is for the time beingauthorised to take the person concerned to5or from any place under the warrant or tokeep the person in custody under thewarrant.

(5) A person authorized pursuant tosubsection (4) to take the person concerned10to or from any place or to keep the personin custody shall, while so taking or keepingthe person, have all the powers, authority,protection and privileges of a member ofthe Garda Sıochana.15

(6) The order by virtue of which a per-son is required to be detained at the time awarrant is issued in respect of him or herunder this section shall continue to haveeffect after his or her removal from the20State so as to apply to him or her if he orshe is again in the State at any time whenunder that order he or she is to be or maybe detained.

Technicalflaws inapplicationsfor surrender.

45C.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), an25application for surrender under section 16shall not be refused on the grounds of—

(a) a defect in substance or in formor an omission of non-substan-tial detail in the European30arrest warrant or anyaccompanying documentgrounding the application,

(b) any variance between any suchdocument and the evidence35adduced on the part of theapplicant at the hearing of theapplication, or

(c) failure to comply with any pro-vision of this Act where the40Court is satisfied that such fail-ure is of a technical nature anddoes not impinge on the meritsof the application.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply where45the Court is satisfied that an injustice wouldthereby be caused to the respondent.”.

PART 3

Schengen Information System

21.—(1) In this Part—50

17

Interpretation.

Exchange ofInformation forpurposes of CouncilDecision andSchengenConvention.

Data Protection.

Amendments tosection 27 ofExtradition Act1965.

“Council Decision” means Council Decision 2007/533/JHA of 12June 2007 on the establishment, operation and use of the secondgeneration Schengen Information System;

“Schengen Convention” means the Convention implementing theSchengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of 5the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic ofGermany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checksat their common borders done at Schengen on 19 June 1990 andincludes any amendment to or modification of that Conventionwhether before or after the passing of this Act but does not include 10the Council Decision.

(2) A word or expression that is used in this Part and also inthe Council Decision or the Schengen Convention shall, unless thecontrary intention appears, have the same meaning in this Part as ithas in the Council Decision or, as the case may be, Schengen 15Convention.

22.—(1) A member of the Garda Sıochana, an officer of customsand excise or any other person or category of persons of a descriptionspecified in an order made by the Minister under this section mayprovide and receive information for the purposes of the operation of 20the Council Decision or Schengen Convention.

(2) The Minister may make an order designating any person orcategory of persons of a description specified in the order as a personwho may provide and receive information for the purposes of theoperation of the Council Decision or Schengen Convention. 25

(3) An order under this section shall, as soon as may be after it ismade, be laid before each of the Houses of the Oireachtas and if aresolution annulling the order or regulation is passed by either suchHouse within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after theorder is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but 30without prejudice to the validity of anything previously donethereunder.

23.—(1) The Data Protection Commissioner is hereby designatedas the national supervisory authority for the purposes of Article 60of the Council Decision and Article 114 of the Schengen Convention. 35

(2) The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 shall apply and haveeffect with any necessary modification to the collection, processing,keeping, use and disclosure of personal data for the purposes of theoperation of the Council Decision and the Schengen Convention.

24.—Section 27 (as amended by sections 6(b) and 8 of the Extra- 40dition (Amendment) Act 1994 and sections 5 and 20(d) of the Extra-dition (European Conventions) Act 2001) is amended—

(a) by the insertion after subsection (3) of the following newsubsections:

“(3A) For the purposes of this section an alert shall be 45deemed to constitute a request for provisional arrest of theperson named therein and the provisions of subsection (2)of this section shall not apply.

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(3B) (a) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall be ajudicial authority for the purposes ofrequesting the entry of an alert in the SIS forthe arrest and extradition of the personnamed therein.5

(b) The issue of a request for extradition by theDirector of Public Prosecutions shall bedeemed to constitute a request by the Directorof Public Prosecutions for entry of an alert inthe SIS for the arrest and extradition of the10person named therein.”,

and

(b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsec-tion (11):

“(12) In this section—15

‘alert’ means an alert entered in the SIS for the arrest andextradition, on foot of an extradition warrant, of the per-son named therein;

‘Council Decision’ means Council Decision 2007/533/JHAof 12 June 2007 on the establishment, operation and use20of the second generation Schengen Information System;

‘Schengen Convention’ means the Convention imple-menting the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985between the Governments of the States of the BeneluxEconomic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and25the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks attheir common borders done at Schengen on 19 June 1990and includes any amendment to or modification of thatConvention whether before or after the passing of this Actbut does not include the Council Decision;30

‘SIS’ means the system referred to in Title IV of theSchengen Convention or, as appropriate, the system estab-lished under Chapter 1 of the Council Decision.”.

PART 4

Amendment of Firearms Acts35

25.—Section 1 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in the definition of “firearm” in subsection (1) (as substi-tuted by section 26 of the Act of 2006) by the insertionin paragraph (f) of “or paragraph (h)” after “foregoingparagraphs”, and40

(b) by the addition of the following definitions after the defini-tion of “muzzle energy”:

“ ‘prohibited ammunition’ means ammunition that isdeclared by order under section 2C of this Act to be pro-hibited ammunition;45

19

Amendments tosection 1 ofPrincipal Act.

Amendment tosection 2 ofPrincipal Act.

New section 2C ofPrincipal Act.

‘prohibited firearm’ means a firearm that is declared byorder under section 2C of this Act to be a prohibitedfirearm.”.

26.—Section 2 (as amended by the Act of 1964, the Firearms(Proofing) Act 1968, the Firearms Act 1971, the Act of 2006 and the 5Criminal Justice Act 2007) of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (4) by the substitution of the following para-graph for paragraph (g):

“(g) the possession, use or carriage of a firearm,within the meaning of paragraph (h) of section 101, or of ammunition therefor for the purposeof being used as a starting gun or blank firinggun by a person who stands authorised in thatbehalf under this section,”,

and 15

(b) in subsection (6) by the deletion of “(d),”.

27.—The following section is inserted after section 2B (inserted bysection 29 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006) of the Principal Act:

“Prohibitedfirearms andammunition.

2C.—(1) The Minister may, in the interests ofpublic safety and security, by order— 20

(a) declare specified firearms to be pro-hibited firearms for the purposes ofthis Act by reference to one or morethan one of the following criteria:

(i) category; 25

(ii) calibre;

(iii) working mechanism;

(iv) muzzle energy;

(v) description;

and 30

(b) declare specified ammunition to be pro-hibited ammunition for the purposes ofthis Act by reference to one or morethan one of the following criteria:

(i) category; 35

(ii) calibre;

(iii) weight;

(iv) kinetic energy;

(v) ballistic co-efficient;

(vi) design; 40

20

(vii) composition;

(viii) description.

(2) Any person who—

(a) possesses, uses or carries,

(b) manufactures, sells or hires, or offers or5exposes for sale or hire, or by way ofbusiness repairs or modifies,

(c) puts on display, or lends or gives to anyother person, or

(d) imports in to the State,10

a prohibited firearm or prohibited ammunitionshall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who is guilty of an offence underthis section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not15exceeding \5,000 or imprisonment fora term not exceeding 12 months orboth, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a finenot exceeding \20,000 or imprison-20ment for a term not exceeding 7 yearsor both.

(4) This section shall not apply to any firearmor ammunition possessed, used, carried, manufac-tured, sold, hired, offered or exposed for sale or25hire, repaired or modified by way of business, pos-sessed for the purpose of sale or hire or for thepurpose of modification by way of business, puton display, lent or given to another or importedinto the State under the authority of the Minister30for Defence for use by the Defence Forces of theState or under the authority of the Minister foruse by any lawful police force in the State.”.

28.—Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended by the substitutionfor subsection (3) of the following subsection:35

“(3) Pending the commencement of section 30 of the Crimi-nal Justice Act 2006, the following provisions shall have effectfor the purpose of continuing in force on a phased basis, for amaximum period of 12 months after the date of expiry of eachcertificate, all firearm certificates in force at the date of com-40mencement of this subsection and that would otherwise expireon 31 July 2009 (“relevant firearm certificates”):

(a) The Commissioner shall establish a prescribednumber of groups of relevant firearm certificates.

(b) Each group established shall be assigned a prescribed45number of relevant firearm certificates selected ran-domly by the Commissioner in a prescribed manner.

21

Amendment tosection 3 ofPrincipal Act.

Amendment tosection 3A ofPrincipal Act.

New sections 3B,3C and 3D ofPrincipal Act.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), those certificatesrelating to firearms that would be deemed to berestricted firearms in accordance with section 29 ofthe Criminal Justice Act 2006 shall be assigned tothe first group established. 5

(d) The firearm certificates in the first group shall con-tinue in force until a prescribed date or dates in aprescribed month after July 2009.

(e) The firearm certificates in each subsequent groupshall continue in force until a prescribed date in each 10subsequent month after the firearm certificates inthe first group expire, and not later than 31 July2010, until all relevant firearm certificates haveexpired.

(f) The Commissioner shall notify each holder of a rel- 15evant firearm certificate of the new date of expiryfor that certificate determined under this section andshall invite each such holder to apply in due courseunder this section (as substituted by section 30 of theCriminal Justice Act 2006) for a new 3 year firearm 20certificate within a prescribed timeframe before thenew date of expiry.

(g) A notification under paragraph (f) shall constitutepart of the relevant firearm certificate to which itrelates and shall be evidence of the new date of 25expiry of that certificate determined under thissection.”.

29.—Section 3A (inserted by section 31 of the Act of 2006) ofthe Principal Act is amended by the substitution for that section ofthe following: 30

“Issue ofguidelines byMinister andCommissioner.

3A.—(1) The Minister, or the Commissionerwith the consent of the Minister, may from timeto time issue guidelines in relation to the practicalapplication and operation of any provision of theFirearms Acts 1925 to 2006, or of any regulation 35made under any provision of those Acts.

(2) The Commissioner with the consent of theMinister may, in particular, issue guidelines inrelation to applications for firearm certificates andauthorisations under this Act and to the conditions 40which may be attached to those certificates andauthorisations.”.

30.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion of thefollowing new sections after section 3A (as substituted by section 29of this Act): 45

“Payment offees forprescribedfirearmcertificates.

3B.—(1) A prescribed fee is payable on thegrant or renewal of a prescribed firearm cer-tificate.

(2) Any fee payable under subsection (1) shallbe paid to a prescribed person at a prescribed 50place and be disposed of by the prescribed person

22

for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordancewith the directions of the Minister for Finance.

(3) Any notice issued by a prescribed person inrelation to the grant or renewal of a prescribedfirearm certificate or the payment of a prescribed5fee under subsection (1) shall be in the pre-scribed form.

Arrangementfor payment ofprescribedfees.

3C.—The Minister may, with the consent of theMinister for Finance, make such arrangements,including contractual arrangements, as he or she10considers appropriate with such person or persons(other than a member or members of the GardaSıochana) as he or she thinks fit in relation toaccounting for prescribed fees received by them.

Restriction onlicensing ofshort firearms.

3D.—(1) As and from the date of commence-15ment of this section, no application for a firearmcertificate in respect of a short firearm shall beconsidered by an issuing person other than for—

(a) a device capable of discharging blankammunition and to be used as a start-20ing gun or blank firing gun;

(b) a short firearm of a type specified atparagraph 4(2)(e) of the Fire-arms (Restricted Firearms andAmmunition) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 2125of 2008) and designed for use as sospecified;

(c) a short firearm for which the applicantfor the firearm certificate held a fire-arm certificate on or before 1930November 2008.

(2) Any firearm certificate in respect of a shortfirearm, other than one to which paragraphs (a) to(c) of subsection (1) relates, granted between 19November 2008 and the date of commencement of35this section and in force shall stand revoked.

(3) For the purposes of this section, “short fire-arm” means a firearm either with a barrel notlonger than 30 centimetres or whose overall length(excluding the length of any detachable40component) does not exceed 60 centimetres.”.

31.—Section 4B (inserted by section 34 of the Act of 2006) of thePrincipal Act is amended in subsection (2)(a) by the substitution for“authorisation” of “certification”.

32.—The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the follow-45ing new section after section 4B (inserted by section 34 of Act of2006):

“Prohibition ofpractical ordynamicshooting.

4C.—(1) It is an offence for a person to facili-tate or engage in the use of a firearm for the pur-poses of practical or dynamic shooting.50

23

Amendment tosection 4B ofPrincipal Act.

New section 4C ofPrincipal Act.

New section 9A ofPrincipal Act.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the facili-tation or engagement in the use of a firearm pur-suant to an authorisation under section 2(5)(a) ofthis Act, where the muzzle energy of the firearmis less than 16 Joules. 5

(3) A person who is guilty of an offence underthis section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine notexceeding \5,000 or imprisonment fora term not exceeding 12 months or 10both, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a finenot exceeding \20,000 or imprison-ment for a term not exceeding 7 yearsor both. 15

(4) In this section “practical or dynamic shoot-ing” means any form of activity in which firearmsare used to simulate combat or combat training.”.

33.—The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the follow-ing section after section 9: 20

“Taxclearance.

9A.—(1) In this section—

“Act of 1997” means the Taxes ConsolidationAct 1997;

“Collector-General” means the Collector-Generalappointed under section 851 of the Act of 1997; 25

“tax clearance certificate” means a certificateunder section 1095 (as substituted by section127(b) of the Finance Act 2002) of the Act of 1997.

(2) The Minister shall refuse to register a per-son in the register of firearms dealers or renew any 30such registration in respect of that person if thatperson is a person in relation to whom a tax clear-ance certificate is not in force.

(3) The Minister may nevertheless register aperson in the register of firearms dealers or renew 35any such registration in respect of that person if—

(a) the person has, at least four monthsbefore applying for such registration orrenewal, applied for a tax clearancecertificate and it has been refused and 40an appeal against the refusal has beenmade under section 1094(7) of the Actof 1997 but not determined, and

(b) the Minister would, but for subsection(2), have registered that person in the 45register of firearms dealers or renewedany such registration in respect of theperson.

24

(4) Where an appeal referred to in subsection(3) is made but is not successful, any registrationor renewal of registration under that subsectionshall expire 7 days after the appeal is determinedor, where appropriate, finally determined.5

(5) The Collector-General shall notify theMinister of any appeal against a refusal of anapplication for a tax clearance certificate and ofthe determination or, as appropriate, final deter-mination of any such appeal.”.10

34.—The following section is substituted for section 17 of the Prin-cipal Act:

“Restrictionson the importof firearms,prohibitedweapons andammunition.

17.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions ofthe Firearms (Firearms Certificates for Non-Residents) Act 2000, no person, other than a regis-15tered firearm dealer, shall import into the Stateany firearm, ammunition, or prohibited weapon.

(2) A continuing licence to import firearms orammunition may on application in the prescribedmanner be granted by the Minister if he or she20thinks fit so to do to any registered firearmsdealer, and every such continuing licence shalloperate and be expressed to authorise the import-ation into the State of firearms and ammunitiongenerally or of any specified class or classes of fire-25arms and ammunition through the port, by theregistered dealer, during the period and subject tothe conditions named in such licence.

(3) An occasional licence to import into theState a firearm or prohibited weapon, with or30without ammunition therefor, may, on applicationin the prescribed manner, be granted by the Mini-ster if he or she thinks fit so to do to any registeredfirearms dealer and every such occasional licenceshall operate and be expressed to authorise the35importation into the State of the firearm and thequantity of ammunition (if any) specified in suchlicence through the port, by the registered firearmsdealer, within the time and subject to the con-ditions named in such licence.40

(4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (3) ofthis section, a licence for importing a firearm,ammunition or prohibited weapon may not begranted unless—

(a) the applicant has a good reason for45importing it,

(b) granting the licence would not prejudicepublic safety or security, and

(c) if the application relates to a restrictedfirearm or restricted ammunition, the50applicant possesses an authorisationunder section 10 of this Act.

25

New section 17 ofPrincipal Act.


Repeal of section21 of Act of 1964.


(5) An applicant for a licence under this sectionshall supply in writing any further information thatthe Minister may require in the performance of hisor her functions under this section.

(6) The reason for refusing an application for a 5licence under this section or for its renewal shallbe communicated in writing to the applicant.

(7) Every continuing licence granted by theMinister under this section may be varied orrevoked by the Minister at any time before its 10expiration.

(8) If any person imports into the State a fire-arm or prohibited weapon or any ammunitionwithout or otherwise than in accordance with alicence under this section authorising such import- 15ation or, in the case of ammunition, in quantitiesin excess of those so authorised, or fails to complywith any condition named in a licence granted tohim or her under this section, he or she shall beguilty of an offence under this Act and shall be 20punishable accordingly.

(9) The possession of a licence granted underthis section shall not relieve any person from theobligation to obtain or hold any certificate, permit,or authority required by any other provision of 25this Act.

(10) This section shall not apply to the import-ation into the State of any firearms, ammunitionor prohibited weapon which is so imported underthe authority of the Minister for Defence for the 30use of the Defence Forces of the State or underthe authority of the Minister for the use of anylawful police force in the State.”.

35.—Section 9 (as substituted by section 53 of the Act of 2006) ofthe Act of 1964 is amended by the substitution for subsection (6) of 35the following:

“(6) An application for renewal of a firearm certificate shallbe in the prescribed form.”.

36.—Section 21 of the Act of 1964 is hereby repealed.

37.—Section 9 of the Act of 1990 is amended in subsection (7) by 40the substitution for paragraph (a) of the following paragraph:

“(a) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1)shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding\5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not 45exceeding twelve months or to both, or

26

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or toimprisonment for a term not exceeding fiveyears or to both.”.

38.—The Act of 1990 is amended by the insertion of the followingsections after section 9 (as amended by section 37 of this Act):5

“Possession ofa realisticimitationfirearm in apublic place.

9A.—(1) Where a person, without lawful auth-ority or reasonable excuse (the onus of provingwhich shall lie on him or her), has a realistic imi-tation firearm with him or her in any public place,that person shall be guilty of an offence.10

(2) A person guilty of an offence under thissection shall be liable:

(i) on summary conviction to a fine notexceeding \5,000 or to imprisonmentfor a term not exceeding twelve15months or to both, or

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine orto imprisonment for a term notexceeding five years or to both.

(3) In this section “public place” includes any20highway and any other premises or place to whichat the material time the public have or are permit-ted to have access, whether on payment or other-wise, and includes any club premises and any train,vessel or vehicle used for the carriage of persons25for reward.

(4) In this section and in sections 9B to 9G“realistic imitation firearm” means a device thatappears to the ordinary observer so realistic as tomake it indistinguishable from a firearm.30

Authorisationof use ofrealisticimitationfirearms atspecifiedvenues,theatres, etc.

9B.—(1) The Superintendent of any districtmay authorise in writing the possession, use or car-riage of realistic imitation firearms in that districtat a specified location during such period, notexceeding one year, as may be specified in the35authorisation.

(2) A Superintendent shall not grant an author-isation under this section unless he or she is satis-fied having regard to all the circumstances(including the provision made or to be made for40the storage of realistic imitation firearms to whichthe authorisation (if granted) would relate and thesupervision of their use) that the possession, use orcarriage, as the case may be, of realistic imitationfirearms in pursuance of the authorisation will not45endanger the public safety or the peace.

(3) Where it is proposed to grant an authoris-ation under this section in respect of a specifiedlocation, the authorisation shall be granted to theperson in charge of the specified location and50where there is a contravention of a condition

27

New sections 9A to9I of Act of 1990.

imposed in relation to the grant of such an author-isation and the contravention is proved to havebeen committed with the consent or approval ofor to have been facilitated by any neglect on thepart of the person to whom the authorisation is 5granted, that person shall be guilty of an offenceunder this Act.

(4) A Superintendent may impose in relation tothe grant of an authorisation under this sectionsuch conditions (if any) as he considers necessary 10to prevent danger to the public and, where a con-dition is imposed, it shall be specified in the auth-orisation.

(5) An authorisation under this section may berevoked at any time by the Superintendent of the 15District in which it is granted.

(6) A person who contravenes a conditionimposed in relation to the grant of an authoris-ation under this section shall be guilty of anoffence and shall be liable on summary conviction 20to a fine of up to \5,000 or up to 12 monthsimprisonment.

Register ofdealers inrealisticimitationfirearms to bekept.

9C.—(1) The Minister shall cause a register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms to be estab-lished and kept. 25

(2) Any person who—

(a) applies, in accordance with the pro-visions of this section, to be registeredin the register of dealers in realisticimitation firearms, 30

(b) pays the fee, if any, prescribed by regu-lations made by the Minister under thissection, and

(c) satisfies the Minister that he or she isimmediately about to carry on business 35as a dealer in realistic imitation fire-arms in premises suitable for thatbusiness,

may be registered in such register, but when con-sidering any such application for registration the 40Minister shall have regard to the character of theapplicant, and generally to the public safety andthe preservation of the peace.

(3) The registration of a person in the registerof dealers in realistic imitation firearms shall con- 45tinue in force for a period of 3 years from the dateof the registration, unless previously revoked and,if renewed, for a further period of 3 years fromthe expiration of that period or, as the case maybe, of any subsequent such period for which the 50registration was renewed.

28

(4) Every registered dealer in realistic imitationfirearms shall be entitled to renew his or her regis-tration in the register of dealers in realistic imi-tation firearms at any time within one monthbefore the expiration of his existing registration or5renewal on application therefor in accordance withthe provisions of this section and payment of thefee, if any, prescribed by regulations made by theMinister under this section.

(5) Every application for registration in the10register of dealers in realistic imitation firearms orfor renewal of such registration shall be made tothe Minister in the form and manner prescribedby regulations made by the Minister under thissection and shall contain the prescribed particulars15(if any) so prescribed.

(6) Every person registered in the register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms shall beentitled on such registration and on every renewalthereof to obtain from the Minister a certificate in20writing of such registration or renewal.

(7) An application for registration in the regis-ter of dealers in realistic firearms dealers or forrenewal of such registration shall be refused ifgranting it would, in the opinion of the Minister,25prejudice public safety or security.

(8) The Minister, after consultation with theCommissioner, may by regulations specify mini-mum standards to be complied with in relation topremises in which a dealer in realistic imitation30firearms carries on business or proposes to do so.

(9) The minimum standards shall be deter-mined by reference to—

(a) the security of the premises,

(b) the location of the premises,35

(c) their safety,

(d) their standard of construction,

(e) window displays, and

(f) types of merchandise,

and having regard to their use for, as the case may40be, the manufacture, repair, testing or sale of imi-tation firearms.

(10) Applicants for registration or renewal shallsatisfy the Minister that their premises complywith the minimum standards specified in any regu-45lations under subsection (8) of this section.

(11) Without prejudice to subsection (2) of thissection, the following persons are declared to be

29

disentitled to be registered in the register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms:

(a) a person under the age of 21 years;

(b) a person of unsound mind;

(c) a person who has been sentenced to 5imprisonment for an offence under theFirearms Acts 1925 to 2007, theOffences Against the State Acts 1939to 1998 or the Criminal Justice(Terrorist Offences) Act 2005; 10

(d) a person who is bound by a recogni-sance to keep the peace or be of goodbehaviour, a condition of which is thatthe person shall not possess, use orcarry a firearm or ammunition. 15

(12) Every regulation made under this sectionshall be laid before each House of the Oireachtasas soon as may be after it is made and, if a resol-ution annulling the regulation is passed by eithersuch House within the next 21 days on which that 20House sits after the regulation is laid before it, theregulation shall be annulled accordingly but with-out prejudice to anything previously donethereunder.

Restrictions onimport,manufactureand sale ofrealisticimitationfirearms.

9D.—(1) On and after the date of commence- 25ment of section 38 of the Criminal Justice(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 it is anoffence for any person to import, manufacture,sell, repair, test, expose for sale, or have in his pos-session for sale, repair or test by way of trade or 30business, any realistic imitation firearm unlesssuch person is registered in the register of dealersin realistic imitation firearms.

(2) On and after the date of commencement ofsection 38 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous 35Provisions) Act 2009 it is an offence for a personto sell a realistic imitation firearm to a personunder the age of 16 years.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under thissection shall be liable: 40

(a) on summary conviction to a fine notexceeding \5,000 or to imprisonmentfor a term not exceeding twelvemonths or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or 45to imprisonment for a term notexceeding five years or both.

Removal ofnames fromregister ofdealers inrealisticimitationfirearms.

9E.—(1) The Minister may at the request ofany person who is registered in the register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms remove the 50name of such person from the register.

30

(2) If and when the Minister is satisfied thatany person who is registered in the register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms—

(a) no longer carries on business as a dealerin realistic imitation firearms, or5

(b) no longer has a place of business as suchdealer in realistic imitation firearms inthe State, or

(c) cannot any longer be permitted to carryon such business without danger to the10public safety or to the peace, or

(d) has become a person who is declaredunder section 9C(11) of this Act to bedisentitled to be registered in the regis-ter of dealers in realistic imitation15firearms,

the Minister may remove the name of such personfrom the register.

(3) A person whose name is removed underthis section from the register of dealers in realistic20imitation firearms shall, on such removal, forth-with deliver up to the Minister the person’s certifi-cate of registration or renewal.

(4) A person who contravenes subsection (3) ofthis section is guilty of an offence and on summary25conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding \3,000.

Inspection ofstock of dealerin realisticimitationfirearms.

9F.—(1) Any member of the Garda Sıochanamay at all reasonable times enter the premises ofany registered dealer in realistic imitation firearmsand there inspect any imitation firearms and any30materials used in the manufacture, repair or testthereof found on such premises.

(2) Every person who obstructs or impedes anymember of the Garda Sıochana in the exercise ofany of the powers conferred on him by this section35shall be guilty of an offence under this section andshall be liable on summary conviction thereof to afine not exceeding \1,000 or imprisonment for aterm not exceeding 6 months or both.

Power byorder torestrict sale ofcertain realisticimitationfirearms fromspecified date.

9G.—(1) Notwithstanding section 9D(1), the40Minister may, if he or she considers that realisticimitation firearms represent a threat to publicsafety and security, and following consultationwith the Commissioner, by order set a date ordates after which it is an offence for a person to45import, manufacture, sell, repair, test, expose forsale or have in his or her possession for sale, repairor testing by way of trade or business any realisticimitation firearm or to do any one or more of theforegoing as may be specified in the order.50

(2) Any order made under this section shall belaid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon

31

as may be after it is made and, if a resolutionannulling the order is passed by either such Housewithin the next 21 days on which that House sitsafter the order is laid before it, the order shall beannulled accordingly but without prejudice to any- 5thing previously done thereunder.


(a) on summary conviction to a fine notexceeding \5,000 or to imprisonment 10for a term not exceeding twelvemonths or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine orto imprisonment for a term notexceeding five years or both. 15

Power byorder torequire certaindescriptions ofimitationfirearms toconform tocertainspecifications.

9H.—(1) The Minister may, if he or she con-siders that certain imitation firearms represent athreat to public safety and security, and followingconsultation with the Commissioner, by order seta date or dates after which it is an offence for a 20person to import, manufacture, sell, repair, test,expose for sale or have in his or her possession forsale, repair or testing by way of trade or businesscertain descriptions of imitation firearms unlessthe imitation firearms conform to certain specifi- 25cations set out in the order.

(2) In this section “imitation firearm” meansanything which is not a firearm but has the appear-ance of being a firearm.

(3) Any order made under this section shall be 30laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soonas may be after it is made and, if a resolutionannulling the order is passed by either such Housewithin the next 21 days on which that House sitsafter the order is laid before it, the order shall be 35annulled accordingly but without prejudice to any-thing previously done thereunder.


(a) on summary conviction to a fine not 40exceeding \5,000 or to imprisonmentfor a term not exceeding twelvemonths or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine orto imprisonment for a term not 45exceeding five years or both.

Tax clearance. 9I.—(1) In this section—

“Act of 1997” means the Taxes ConsolidationAct 1997;

“Collector-General” means the Collector-General 50appointed under section 851 of the Act of 1997;

32

“tax clearance certificate” means a certificateunder section 1095 (as substituted by section127(b) of the Finance Act 2002) of the Act of 1997.

(2) The Minister shall refuse to register a per-son in the register of dealers in realistic imitation5firearms or renew any such registration in respectof that person if that person is a person in relationto whom a tax clearance certificate is not in force.

(3) The Minister may nevertheless register aperson in the register of dealers in realistic imi-10tation firearms or renew any such registration inrespect of that person if the person has, at leastfour months before applying for such registrationor renewal, applied for a tax clearance certificateand the Minister would, but for subsection (2),15have registered that person in the register ofdealers in realistic imitation firearms or renewedany such registration in respect of the person.

(4) Where an appeal referred to in subsection(3) is made but is not successful, any registration20or renewal of registration under that subsectionshall expire 7 days after the appeal is determinedor, where appropriate, finally determined.

(5) The Collector-General shall notify theMinister of any appeal against a refusal of an25application for a tax clearance certificate and ofthe determination or, as appropriate, final deter-mination of any such appeal.”.

39.—Section 16 of the Act of 1990 is amended by the substitutionfor that section of the following:30

“Power ofsearch withoutwarrant.

16.—(1) If a member of the Garda Sıochanasuspects with reasonable cause that a person haswith him or her in any public place (within themeaning of section 9(8)) any article in contra-vention of section 9 or 9A (inserted by section 3835of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions)Act 2009), he may:

(a) search the person and, if he or she con-siders it necessary for that purpose,detain the person for such time as is40reasonably necessary for carrying outthe search,

(b) search any vehicle, vessel or aircraft inwhich he or she suspects that sucharticle may be found and for the pur-45pose of carrying out the search may, ifhe or she thinks fit, require the personwho for the time being is in possessionor control of such vehicle, vessel or air-craft to bring it to a stop and when50stopped to refrain from moving it, orin case such vehicle, vessel or aircraftis already stationary, to refrain frommoving it, or

33




(c) seize and detain anything found in thecourse of a search under this sectionthat appears to him or her to be some-thing that might be required as evi-dence in proceedings for an offence 5under section 9 or 9A.

(2) Nothing in this section shall operate toprejudice any powers to search, seize or detainproperty that may be exercisable by a member ofthe Garda Sıochana apart from this section.”. 10

40.—Section 2 of the Act of 2000 is amended by the substitutionof the following for subsection (6):

“(6) A firearm certificate granted to a person under thissection after the date of commencement of section 40 of theCriminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 shall con- 15tinue in force for a period of 1 year from the date on which it isgranted, unless previously revoked.”.

41.—The following section is substituted for section 30 of the Actof 2006:

“30.—The following section is substituted for section 3 of the 20Principal Act:

‘Applicationsfor, and formand effect of,firearmcertificates.

3.—(1) Application for a firearm certificate(other than a restricted firearm certificate) shallbe made to the Superintendent of the GardaSıochana of the district in which the applicant 25resides.

(2) Application for a restricted firearm certifi-cate shall be made to the Commissioner.

(3) The application shall be in the prescribedform, and if the applicant intends to use the fire- 30arm to hunt and kill exempted wild mammalswithin the meaning of the Wildlife Act 1976 (otherthan hares), be accompanied by a current licenceto do so under section 29(1) of that Act.

(4) The applicant shall supply in writing any 35further information that the Superintendent or theCommissioner may require in the performance ofhis or her functions under this section.

(5) A firearm certificate shall be in the pre-scribed form and, subject to subsection (6) of this 40section, shall authorise the person to whom it isgranted—

(a) to possess, use and carry the firearmspecified in the certificate,

(b) to purchase ammunition for use in the 45firearm, and

34

(c) at any one time to possess or carry notmore than the amount of ammunitionspecified in the certificate.

(6) Where the firearm is a shot-gun, the firearmcertificate may, subject to subsection (11) of this5section, authorise it to be used only for killing ani-mals or birds other than protected wild animalsor protected wild birds within the meaning of theWildlife Act 1976 by the holder of the certificateeither (as may be expressed in the certificate)—10

(a) on land occupied by the holder, or

(b) on land occupied by another person.

(7) A firearm certificate which is in force, otherthan a relevant firearm certificate continued inforce under section 3(3) of this Act, as amended15by section 28 of the Criminal Justice(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, shall con-tinue in force for a period of 3 years from the dateon which it was granted, unless revoked, and forany further such period for which it may be20renewed.

(8) The holder of a firearm certificate mayapply for renewal of the certificate within threemonths before it ceases to be in force.

(9) A decision on an application for a firearm25certificate or its renewal shall be given within 3months from the date on which the applicant sub-mitted a completed application form.

(10) Where the application is refused, theapplicant shall be informed in writing of the30refusal and the reason for it.

(11) The following provisions have effect inrelation to a certificate in the form referred to insubsection (6) of this section (in this subsectionreferred to as a “limited certificate”):35

(a) a limited certificate relating to landoccupied by a person other than theapplicant for the certificate shall not begranted unless the occupier of the landhas given the applicant a nomination in40writing for holding the certificate;

(b) a limited certificate relating to any landshall not be granted in respect of anyperiod if there is a limited certificaterelating to the land already in force in45respect of that period;

(c) a limited certificate shall not be grantedunless the whole of the land to whichit would relate is occupied by thesame person;50

35

Repeal of section40 of Act of 2006.


New section 2A ofAct of 1857.

(d) where a nomination referred to in para-graph (a) of this subsection is revoked,the limited certificate to which itrelated, if then in force, shall not becapable of being renewed. 5

(12) A firearm in respect of which a firearmcertificate is granted shall be marked in the pre-scribed manner with a number or other prescribedidentifying mark, and the number or mark shall beentered on the certificate. 10

(13) A person who—

(a) knowingly gives false or misleading infor-mation to an issuing person in relationto an application for a firearm certifi-cate or for its renewal, 15

(b) forges a document purporting to be afirearm certificate or uses or knowinglypossesses it, or

(c) with intent to deceive, uses or alters afirearm certificate or uses a firearm 20certificate so altered, is guilty of anoffence and liable—

(i) on summary conviction, to a finenot exceeding \2,500 or imprison-ment for a term not exceeding 6 25months or both, or

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to afine not exceeding \20,000 orimprisonment for a term notexceeding 5 years or both. 30

(14) Subsection (13) of this section is withoutprejudice to Part 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theftand Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

(15) Section 12 (limited use of shot-gun) of theFirearms Act 1964 is repealed.’.”. 35

42.—Section 40 of the Act of 2006 is hereby repealed.

PART 5

Miscellaneous

43.—Section 2 (as extended by section 51 of the Courts(Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961) of the Summary Jurisdiction 40Act 1857 is hereby amended by the insertion after “such Case” of“or such longer period as may be provided for by Rules of Court”.

44.—The Act of 1857 is hereby amended by the insertion aftersection 2 of the following new section:

36

“2A.—(1) Notice in writing of an appeal and a copy of thecase stated and signed, required by section 2 (as extended bysection 51 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 andamended by section 43 of the Criminal Justice (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act 2009) of this Act to be given to any other party5to the proceedings may, subject to subsection (2), be so given—

(a) by delivering it to him or her or to his or her solicitor,

(b) by addressing it to him or her and leaving it at his orher usual or last known residence or place of busi-ness or by addressing it to his or her solicitor and10leaving it at the solicitor’s office,

(c) by sending it by registered post to him or her at hisor her usual or last known residence or place of busi-ness or to his or her solicitor at the solicitor’soffice, or15

(d) in the case of a body corporate, by delivering it, orsending it by registered post, to the secretary or anyother officer of the body at its registered or princi-pal office.

(2) Notice in writing of an appeal and a copy of the case20stated and signed, required by section 2 (as so extended andamended) of this Act to be given to any other party to the pro-ceeding shall, if that party is not represented by a solicitor begiven personally to him or her.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) the solicitor25retained to appear on behalf of any party at the hearing anddetermination of the information or complaint shall be deemedto continue to be retained on his or her behalf unless the Courthas otherwise been advised.”.

45.—Section 4 (as amended by section 2 of the Criminal Justice30(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 and section 34 of the CriminalJustice Act 1999) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 is herebyamended—

(a) by the deletion of subsection (6), and

(b) in subsection (9), by the deletion of “(6) or”.35

46.—The Criminal Justice Act 1984 is hereby amended by theinsertion of the following new section after section 21:

“Evidence ofcertainmatters.

21A.—(1) In any criminal proceedings a writ-ten statement purporting to have been madeunder this section by a member of an Garda Sıoch-40ana not below the rank of Sergeant and statingthat the material to which it refers is the result ofwork carried out by staff of the Garda TechnicalBureau of an Garda Sıochana shall, until the con-trary is shown, be sufficient evidence of the facts45stated therein without proof of any signature onit or that the signatory was the proper person tosign it.

37

Amendment tosection 4 ofCriminal JusticeAct 1984.

New section 21A ofCriminal JusticeAct 1984.

Amendment of BailAct 1997.

(2) The Minister may by regulations prescribethe form of any such written statement to be madeunder subsection (1).

(3) Evidence to which subsection (1) appliesshall not be admitted in any criminal proceedings 5if the Court considers that in the interests ofjustice it ought not to be admitted.”.

47.—The Bail Act 1997 is hereby amended—

(a) in section 5, by the insertion of the following subsectionafter subsection (4)— 10

“(5) The payment of an amount of moneys under arecognisance for transmission to the court to a personspecified in section 22(3) of the Act of 1967 shall bedeemed to be a payment into court for the purposes ofthis section and references in this section and in section 22 15of the Act of 1967 to the payment of an amount of moneysinto court and to moneys paid or to be paid into courtshall be construed accordingly.”,

(b) in section 9 (as substituted by section 15 of the CriminalJustice Act 2007), by the substitution for that section of 20the following:

“Estreatmentofrecognisanceand forfeitureof moneyspaid intocourt.

9.—(1) Where an accused person or aperson who is appealing against a sentenceof imprisonment imposed by the DistrictCourt (in either case referred to in this 25section as ‘the person’) is admitted to bailon entering into a recognisance conditionedfor his or her appearance before a specifiedcourt on a specified date at a specified timeand place, and the person— 30

(a) fails to appear in accordance withthe recognisance and the courtissues a warrant for his or herarrest, or

(b) is brought before the court in 35accordance with subsection (7)and the court is satisfied thatthe person has contravened acondition of the recognisance,

the court may order— 40

(i) that any moneys conditioned tobe paid under the recognisanceby the person or any surety beestreated in such amount andwithin such period as the court 45thinks fit,

(ii) that any sums paid into court bythe person or any surety be for-feited in such amount oramounts as the court thinks fit, 50

38

(iii) where a bank, building society,credit union or an An Postdeposit book has been acceptedas security for the amount of therecognisance, that the entity5concerned pay into court thatamount, or such lesser amountas the court thinks fit, from themoneys held by the person orany surety on deposit therein,10and

(iv) where necessary for estreatment,that a receiver be appointed totake possession or control of theproperty of the person or any15surety and to manage or other-wise deal with it in accordancewith the directions of the court.

(2) Where a receiver—

(a) appointed under subsection (1)20takes any action under thissection in relation to property,and

(b) believes, and has reasonablegrounds for believing, that he or25she is entitled to take thataction in relation to theproperty,

he or she shall not be liable to any personin respect of any loss or damage resulting30from the action, except in so far as the lossor damage is caused by his or hernegligence.

(3) Money recovered by the receivermay, to the extent necessary, be applied to35meet expenses incurred in the performanceof his or her functions and the remuner-ation of any person employed in thatconnection.

(4) The court may, on the application of40a member of the Garda Sıochana and oninformation being made in writing and onoath by or on behalf of the member thatthe person has contravened a condition ofthe recognisance (other than the condition45referred to in subsection (1) that he or sheappear before a specified court on a speci-fied date at a specified place), issue a war-rant for the arrest of the person.

(5) A member of the Garda Sıochana50may arrest the person pursuant to a warrantissued under subsection (4) notwithstand-ing that the member does not have the war-rant concerned in his or her possession atthe time of the arrest.55

39

(6) Where subsection (5) applies, themember shall serve the warrant on thearrested person as soon as practicable.

(7) The arrested person shall be broughtas soon as practicable before the court. 5

(8) Where a warrant has been issuedunder subsection (4), the person and anysurety remain bound by their recogni-sances, and any money paid into court inconnection therewith shall not be released 10before the conclusion of any proceedingsunder this section.

(9) Where the court makes an orderunder subsection (1), notice shall be givento the person and any surety stating that an 15application to vary or discharge the ordermay be made to the court within 21 daysfrom the date of the issue of the notice.

(10) On such an application, the courtmay vary or discharge the order if satisfied 20that compliance with it would cause unduehardship to the person or any surety.

(11) The prosecutor shall be givennotice of, and be entitled to be heard in,any application under subsection (10). 25

(12) Subject to subsection (13), if anorder under subparagraph (i) of subsection(1) or any variation of it under subsection(10) is not complied with, a warrant of com-mittal of the person or any surety for such 30non-compliance shall be issued by the courtand, for the purpose of determining theterm of imprisonment to be served by theperson or surety, the warrant shall betreated as if it were a warrant for imprison- 35ment for the non-payment of a fine equiv-alent to the amount estreated under thesaid subparagraph (i) of subsection (1).

(13) Where the person referred to insubsection (12) is a child within the mean- 40ing of section 110 of the Children Act 2001,non-compliance with an order under subpa-ragraph (i) of subsection (1) or with anyvariation of it under subsection (10) shallbe treated as a default in payment of a fine, 45costs or compensation under the saidsection 110 and the provisions of thatsection shall apply accordingly.”,

and

(c) in the Schedule to the Act by— 50

(i) the insertion after paragraph 7 of the followingparagraph:

40

“7A. Any offence under section 3 of the Crimi-nal Justice Act 1990 (certain murders andattempts).”,

(ii) the substitution in paragraph 28 of the following sub-paragraphs for subparagraph (c):5

“(c) section 16 (affray), and

(d) section 17 (blackmail, extortion anddemanding money with menaces).”,

(iii) the substitution of the following paragraph for para-graph 28A (inserted by section 79 of the Criminal10Justice Act 2006):

“Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

28A. Any offence under the following provisionsof the Criminal Justice Act 2006—

(a) section 71, 72 or 73 (organised crime);15

(b) section 176 (reckless endangerment ofchildren);

(c) section 183 (possession of articleintended for use in connection withcertain offences);20

(d) section 183A (possession of moniesintended for use in connection withcertain offences).”,

and

(iv) the insertion after paragraph 33 of the following25paragraph:

“Offences under the Prisons Act 2007.

34. Any offence under section 36 of the PrisonsAct 2007.”.

48.—Section 15 of the Act of 2001, as amended by section 47 of30the Criminal Justice Act 2007, is hereby amended—

(a) by the insertion after subsection (1) of the following:

“(1A) A person who, without lawful authority orreasonable excuse, is in possession of any article made oradapted for use in the course of, or in connection with, the35commission of an offence referred to in paragraphs (a) to(d) of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.”,

and

(b) in subsection (2) (as substituted by section 47 of the Crimi-nal Justice Act 2007) by the substitution for that subsec-40tion of the following subsections:

41



Amendment tosection 99 ofCriminal JusticeAct 2006.

Amendment toRegulation 12 ofCriminal JusticeAct 1984(Treatment ofPersons in Custodyin Garda SıochanaStations)Regulations 1987.

“(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offenceunder subsection (1) to prove that at the time of thealleged offence the article concerned was not in his or herpossession for a purpose specified in that subsection.

(2A) It is a defence for a person charged with an 5offence under subsection (1A) to prove that the articleconcerned was not made or adapted for use in the courseof or in connection with the commission of an offencereferred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1).”.

49.—Section 39 of the Act 2001 is hereby amended in subsection 10(5) by the substitution for “those subsections” of “that subsection”.

50.—Section 99 (as amended by section 60 of the Criminal JusticeAct 2007) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 is hereby amended insubsection (9) by the insertion after “convicted of an offence” of “,being an offence committed after the making of the order under 15subsection (1)”.

51.—Regulation 12 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatmentof Persons in Custody in Garda Sıochana Stations) Regulations 1987(S.I. No. 119 of 1987) is hereby amended by the deletion of para-graphs (7)(a)(ii), (12)(c) and (12)(d).”. 20

42

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