Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the committee is aware, the Bill will deliver on two important commitments in the programme for Government. It will implement the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland which called for the use of body-worn cameras to enhance front-line policing capabilities. It will also extend An Garda Síochána's use of CCTV and automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, to prevent crime and to aid with the prosecution of those involved in criminal activity. I do not propose to introduce amendments on Committee Stage or Report Stage. However, I will consider general processing provisions for Parts 2, 5 and 7 in the Seanad. This is essentially to ensure that every Part makes specific mention of processing.

One the key features of the Bill is the introduction of body-worn cameras. The Garda Commissioner and Garda representative bodies have long called for the introduction of body-worn cameras. This technology has the potential to deter attacks on Garda members and where attacks occur, it can provide strong evidence to bring perpetrators to justice. Policing organisations throughout the world have found that body-worn cameras can help improve front-line capability with the accurate recording of incidents. It can expedite analysis, enhance situational awareness and protect police from harm.

I would like to address my intention, and that of the Minister, Deputy Harris, to introduce facial recognition into this Bill on Committee Stage. As Deputies will no doubt be aware, following consultation with Government colleagues, the use of facial recognition technology, FRT, will be provided for separately in the new Garda Síochána digital management and facial recognition technology Bill 2023. That Bill will be drafted on priority basis to provide for the safe and ethical use of facial recognition technology to assist the Garda to investigate the most serious crimes which are subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

A number of safeguards will be included in that Bill, including that any use of FRT not provided for will be prohibited. A code of practice will be required. Mass surveillance and profiling will be prohibited. The operation of the Bill will be kept under review by a High Court judge. My aim in proposing new legislation is to introduce a limited form of retrospective FRT, which can assist An Garda Síochána to search CCTV footage and data which it already has and already manually works through in a quicker and more effective manner. This would save valuable Garda time but more importantly, it would be a vital tool in investigating serious crime, in preserving life and in protecting national security.

Retrospective FRT is a tool to help members of the Garda manage the evidence they gather as part of investigations into the most serious crimes, such as murder, rape, terrorism, serious organised crime and child sexual abuse. A current Garda investigation can involve teams of gardaí spending several months trawling through thousands of hours of CCTV footage manually, potentially to find only a short few clips which can lead to the identification of a suspect or victim. In no area is this more warranted than when it comes to child sexual abuse. Reducing the amount of time it takes for Garda members to go through video footage will be of particular benefit where time is of the essence following a very serious crime being committed. The identification of a suspect in a serious crime, finding a missing or abducted child or, as I said, where a child is subject to child abuse would be a crucial benefit of the proposed Bill.

As the Deputies will welcome, the new FRT Bill will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, which will be able to invite experts from across this complex area to discuss its provisions. I will be returning to the Cabinet with heads of this Bill after the summer recess, with the general scheme expected to be published thereafter.

I think we can all agree on the need to progress today's Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill soon as possible as the introduction of body-worn cameras by members of An Garda Síochána is long overdue. This modern technology is a key tool for front-line gardaí. It represents a practical expression of our commitment to build stronger and safer communities. I believe it is essential to the deliver on Government's aim to ensure An Garda Síochána is a leading-edge modern police service, fit for the digital age. Today's Committee Stage is another significant step towards the enactment of this important Bill. It will provide the necessary legislative underpinning for the use of body-worn cameras and other technologies. I look forward to working with the committee to finish the task of improving safety for members of An Garda Síochána as well as assisting them in investigating crime.