Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the select committee for its co-operation in completing Committee Stage of this ground-breaking and important legislation. This is the most important legislation that will be enacted during this Dáil’s lifetime. It will provide assistance for members of An Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime and bringing individuals before the courts who have committed crimes. It will ensure maximum use is made of identification evidence. It will also ensure that where an allegation is made, an individual cannot be wrongly convicted. The existence of DNA databases in other countries has proved during the years to be of great assistance in identifying instances of miscarriage of justice. This will be an important tool in helping An Garda Síochána in fighting crime. In putting in place the required resources it is important that we can fully co-operate with other European Union colleagues in the fight against international crime. It will ensure those involved in cross-border crime will know there is the maximum co-operation between police forces across Europe and that we can access information held in other member states.

I pay tribute to my officials and those from the Office of the Attorney General who have done enormous work in the preparation of the Bill and the drafting of crucial amendments. It is complex legislation, but it is also human rights legislation as it seeks to ensure victims of crime know we have the necessary 21st century and state-of-the-art facilities in Forensic Science Ireland to facilitate investigations. It also reflects the human rights judgments and jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in this area in that information will be properly used and retained and destroyed when no longer required.

I pay tribute to those who work in Forensic Science Ireland who do tremendous work. It is given very limited public recognition, but the work it does is crucial and central to the investigation of crime. Its work in seeking to ensure the necessary infrastructure and expertise are in place to provide for the DNA database is of great importance. DNA evidence is used extensively in the investigation of crime and has proved to be extremely useful in identifying the perpetrators of crime. A DNA database will be a significantly important additional tool for An Garda Síochána. It is, therefore, in the public interest that this legislation e enacted. I hope it will be through both Houses before the summer break.

I appreciate that much of what have we dealt with today is complex and technical. It is important in enacting legislation that we update related criminal law legislation to ensure consistency of approach to DNA profiling and samples, fingerprints, photographs, etc. We have gone through this complex legislation with great speed. It is an important day in the life of the select committee that we have got to this point in completing the legislative process. I look forward to taking Report Stage without undue delay.