Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Commissioner talks about protecting the people and improving data to enhance the Garda's ability to do so. He talks about reducing crime and responding to threats. He also talks about confronting those involved in organised crime. I thank him for the help he has given to the people of Drogheda over recent months. Drogheda has been through a very bad period and An Garda Síochána has done a fantastic job in combatting crime in the area. That is welcome. The Commissioner talks about depriving criminals of the proceeds of crime. I can see that happening in my own town of Dundalk and in Drogheda. He also talks about improving the investigation response to crime and the forensic capacity of the organisation.

I want to talk about improving data and forensic capacity. I come from Dundalk, County Louth. I have noticed a serious issue and I do not know whether the Commissioner is fully aware of it. More than 400 people from County Louth are reported missing every year. Information on missing person reports is included in the Garda annual report. Statistics are also available on a county-by-county basis. County Louth has one of the highest rates of missing persons per head of population. I am very concerned about that.

I will ask three or four questions and then the Commissioner can give me his answers. What is the view of An Garda Síochána on the high number of persons reported missing in County Louth, that is, 400 people? We should be thankful that many of these missing people are found safe and sound. Sadly, a number are found deceased and others remain missing. Can the Garda provide details of the number of missing persons who are found deceased and the number of people who remain missing, both nationally and in my native county of Louth? As an island, unidentified remains are washed up on our shores or found in other circumstances. Can the Garda give an indication of the number of unidentified persons discovered in Ireland? Are there records of all cases and, if so, where are they kept?

At times, only partial remains are recovered. What procedures are in place for such cases? What efforts are under way to obtain DNA samples from the partial remains found over the years? As the taking of DNA samples for the Garda database is a relatively new initiative, what actions are the Garda taking to solve cold cases involving the unidentified persons who have been buried in cemeteries across the country where no DNA samples were taken? Other countries, such as the UK, are carrying out audits of cases of unidentified remains on a county-by-county basis. In some instances exhumation is carried out to obtain DNA samples. Is a similar project planned for Ireland? If not, why? It would solve many cases for families, as it has done in the UK. Audits also solve some cases. We all know that it is not nice to be missing a daughter, a son, a brother, a father or a mother. There are an awful lot of unmarked graves in this country. These are relevant questions in the context of the new database. Will the Commissioner give me some answers?