Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I would like to apologise. I had to leave the meeting earlier to go the Chamber and so I missed many of the contributions. I welcome all the speakers this afternoon. The bit that I heard has been very informative. It would appear that there is quite a journey to go yet with regard to this particular legislation.

First, I will make a comment on CCTV. I respectfully suggest that any community watching the debate this afternoon is probably doing so aghast when it comes to the installation of CCTV in towns throughout the length and breadth of the country. My experience is that the process is very cumbersome and time-consuming. I am aware of a couple of examples in my part of the world where applications for CCTV seem to go on for an eternity. I do not know whether that particular issue can be addressed by this legislation.

I very much welcome CCTV. I believe it acts in the prevention as well as the investigation of crime. I know of many incidents where positive outcomes have resulted from it. I am, therefore, very much a fan of CCTV. Having said that, it is important we balance that with citizens' rights and we must also be very cognisant of victims of crime when we discuss matters like this.

With regard to the body cameras, a number of speakers have alluded to the rapid development of technologies. That is very true and it is a question of how legislation keeps up with that rapid development of technology. It is a challenge and it is important. I do not know if a commitment was given here that this piece of legislation will adapt and be flexible with those advances in technology. That is vitally important. What have been the learnings, good and bad, from the experiences of other jurisdictions that have adopted body cameras over a period?

How can we take those learnings and adapt them for our system?

My next point may have been covered earlier and if it has, I apologise. I am thinking of a practical situation where a member of the Garda arrives at the scene of a disturbance or whatever. At what point are gardaí meant to inform the individual or individuals concerned that they are turning on a camera or videoing the scene.? It is important that people know that. Someone could begin videoing this meeting at this point and have a totally different perception of the meeting and contributions by the end. What is the opinion of the Department and others, including gardaí, who want to speak about that?

Are there clear parameters and guidelines on the use of devices and at what point recording commences and is terminated? A garda could arrive at a situation that is quite calm but that could explode in a matter of seconds. How can the guidelines and framework in the Bill be adopted from a practical day-to-day point of view? What has been learned from other police forces?