Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The main point is that this is a training programme. In this context, the focus is on training, as opposed to discussing operational issues. When we are participating in training courses, we are conscious of both our own data protection laws and international data protection orders.

This is a day-to-day issue for An Garda Síochána as well because we co-operate regularly with Europol and Interpol and all of those data protection concerns remain. Further EU mechanisms for data protection are still on the agenda of the JHA and will continue to be for some time, as there are many issues to be teased out in that regard.