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

We have decided that this is not going to be applied for in the context of facial recognition. Obviously, there will be further discussion and debate but the heads of the Bill that will be drafted will be based on clearly prohibiting, as I said at the outset, mass surveillance and the use of live facial recognition and that it would only apply retrospectively, and only in instances of threats to national security, homicide, rape and aggravated sexual assault, child sexual abuse, abduction and the most serious offences where life sentences would apply. That is the approach we are taking. There is much debate on this matter at European level. Many member states use facial recognition technology. Some of them use it in a live context and others only use it retrospectively. There are various levels of oversight in the context of how it is applied for and how it is provided.

As we go move forward, the joint committee will the opportunity to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of the heads of the proposed Bill. At that stage, all of these issues can be fleshed out. Again, there will obviously be an opportunity to amend what is proposed. As of now, however, the intention is that this will only apply retrospectively.