Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I wish to signal my intention to table an amendment to section 66 on Report Stage. The amendment will reflect positive engagement I have had with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and the chair of the DNA database oversight committee. On the foot of this engagement, I plan to table amendments to provide further oversight and accountability mechanisms within the legislation. The DNA database oversight committee was established under the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014. The committee is independent in its function and has an oversight role in the management and operation of the existing DNA database system for the purposes of maintaining the integrity and security of the system and ensuring compliance with the 2014 Act.

The intended amendments will provide a legislative basis for the existing oversight committee to provide the same important assurance role in respect of historical databases established under the Institutional Burials Bill. It is intended that, where the committee undertakes this role, it shall meet as the historical remains database oversight committee for this purpose and shall hold dedicated meetings in respect of this specific role and its associated functions.

The theme of assurance and accountability was an important one raised by affected families, as well as by this committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny of the legislation. This intended amendment is further responding to this issue and building on the important accountability mechanism already provided for within the proposed legislation.