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Updated to 9 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 426 of 2025)

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Firearms Act 1964
No. 1 of 1964

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 28 January 1964 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Firearms Acts s. 29(2)
Offences under collectively cited Firearms Acts designated scheduled offences S.I. No. 142 of 1972
S. 1 amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 52(a) and (b)
S. 2 repealed 12/1990, ss. 1 (2) (3), 4 (2) (b)
S. 3 (1)-(4) (a) amended 39/1976, ss. 1 (2), 65
S. 3(3) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 3(4)(a) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 3(4)(b) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 4 amended and extended S. I. No. 362 of 1993, reg. 12 (1) (2)
S. 9 substituted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 53
S. 9(2) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 9(3) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 9(4) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 9(6) substituted 28/2009, ss. 1(3), 37
S. 10 repealed 20/2000, ss. 7 (1) (b), 8 (3)
S. 11 application extended 20/2000, ss. 2 (16), 8 (3)
S. 11(1) amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 54(a)
S. 11(2) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 11(2) amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 54(b)(i) and (ii)
S. 12 repealed  17/1925, s. 3(15) as subst. by 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 30 as subst. by 29/2007, s. 43
S. 12 application extended 20/2000, ss. 2 (16), 8 (3)
S. 12(1) amended 39/1976, s. 65(1)(a)
S. 13(2) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 13(2) amended 40/2011, ss. 1(2), 98-101 & sch. 8
S. 13(5) amended with transitional provisions 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 18, 26, sch. 1 ref. 12
S. 13(7) inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 55
S. 13(8) inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 55
S. 21 repealed 28/2009, ss. 1(3), 38
S. 21 application extended 20/2000, ss. 2 (16), 8 (3)
S. 21(1) amended 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 56(a)
S. 21(3) inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 56(b)
S. 24 application extended 20/2000, ss. 2 (16), 8 (3)
S.25(1) amended 14/1976, ss. 21 (6) (a), 22 (2)
S. 26 monitoring or protection of persons order may be made 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 26 and sch. 2, 5(a)
S. 26 minimum sentences prescribed for certain offences under 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 25 and sch. 2, 5(a)
S. 26 substituted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 57
S. 26 offence under may be element of terrorist offence 2/2005, s. 4 and sch. 2 pt. 1 para. 9(d)
S. 26 offence under not to be regarded as political offence 1/1987, s. 3 as am. by 6/1994, s. 2 and sch. 1 para. 9(a)
S. 26, ext. to offences committed in N.I. 14/1976, ss. 2, 22 (2), sch.
S. 26, provn. relating to bail. 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 15 (a), 29, 30
S. 26(1) amended 22/1984, ss. 1 (1) (3), 14 (2)-(5)
  14/1976, ss. 21 (6) (b), 22 (2)
S. 26(2)(a) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(a)(i), 10, 11(2)
S. 26(4A) inserted 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 36(a)
S. 26(5) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 36(b)
S. 26(7), (8) deleted with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(a)(ii), 10, 11(2)
S. 26(10) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(a)(iii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27 Court approval for exercise of powers where acquittal 27/2010, ss. 1(2), 7, 15- 18 and schedule
S. 27 monitoring or protection of persons order may be made 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 26 and sch. 2, 5(b)
S. 27 minimum sentences prescribed for certain offences under 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 25 and sch. 2, 5(b)
S. 27 re-trial procedure for offence under 27/2010, ss. 1(2), 7-14 and Schedule
S. 27 offence under may be element of terrorist offence 2/2005, s. 4 and sch. 2 pt. 1 para. 9(e)
S. 27 offence under not to be regarded as political offence 1/1987, s. 3 as am. by 6/1994, s. 2 and sch. 1 para. 9(b)
S. 27 substituted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 58
S. 27, ext. to offences committed in N.I. 14/1976, ss. 2, 22 (2), sch.
S. 27, provn. relating to bail. 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 15 (b), 29, 30
S. 27(2) amended 22/1984, ss. 1 (1) (3), 14 (2)-(5)
  14/1976, ss. 21 (6) (c), 22 (2)
S. 27(2)(a) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(b)(i), 10, 11(2)
S. 27(4A) inserted 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 37(a)
S. 27(5) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 37(b)
S. 27(7), (8) deleted with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(b)(ii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27(9) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(b)(iii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27A inserted 14/1976, ss. 8, 22 (2), see also s. 20 (7) (b)
S. 27A monitoring or protection of persons order may be made 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 26 and sch. 2, no.5(c)
S. 27A minimum sentences prescribed for certain offences under 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 25 and sch. 2, 5(c)
S. 27A substituted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 59
S. 27A, provn. relating to bail. 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 15 (c), 29, 30
S. 27A, ext. to offences committed in N.I. 14/1976, ss. 2, 22 (2)
S. 27A (1) am. 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 38(a)
  22/1984, ss. 1 (1) (3), 14 (2)-(5)
  39/1998, s.15 (2)
S. 27A(2)(a) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(c)(i), 10, 11(2)
S. 27A(4A) inserted 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 38(b)
S. 27A(5) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 38(c)
S. 27A(7) deleted with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(c)(ii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27A(8) declared unconstitutional* Ellis v Minister for Justice and Equality [2019] IESC 30
S. 27A(9) amended with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(c)(iii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27B inserted 14/1976, ss. 9, 22 (2)
S. 27B monitoring or protection of persons order may be made 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 26 and sch. 2, no.5(d)
S. 27B minimum sentences prescribed for certain offences under 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 25 and sch. 2, 5(d)
S. 27B offence under may be element of terrorist offence 2/2005, s. 4 and sch. 2 pt. 1 para. 9(g)
S. 27B offence under not to be regarded as political offence 1/1987, s. 3 as am. by 6/1994, s. 2 and sch. 1 para. 9(c)
S. 27B substituted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 60
S. 27B, ext. to offences committed in N.I. 14/1976, ss. 2, 22 (2)
S. 27B, provn. relating. to bail. 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 15 (d), 29, 30
S. 27B(1) amended 22/1984, ss. 1 (1) (3), 14 (2)-(5)
S. 27B(2)(a) amended 36/2021, ss. 5(d)(i), 11(2)
S. 27B(4A) inserted 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 39(a)
S. 27B(5) amended 29/2007, ss. 1(2), 39(b)
S. 27B(7), (8) deleted with retrospective application 36/2021, ss. 5(c)(ii), 10, 11(2)
S. 27B(10) amended 36/2021, ss. 5(c)(iii), 11(2)
S. 27C inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 61

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 4(1) Firearms (Temporary Custody) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 187 of 1972)

*S. 27A(8) (as substituted by s. 59 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006) was declared repugnant to the Constitution by the Supreme Court in Ellis v Minister for Justice and Equality [2019] IESC 30.