Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to our guests and fellow committee members for running in and out. I am trying to balance two committees meeting at the same time. It is interesting that the children's committee is dealing with the impact of AI on children at the same time we are discussing the impact of AI, in a way, at this committee.

In the interests of time, I will streamline my questions a little more. For the ICCL and DRI, whose representatives made the assertion that the Bill as proposed is unlawful under EU law. Will they give us more information and detail on that? The Bill as it stands allows for authorisation by a chief superintendent instead of, for example, a judge and judicial warrant. I welcome their views, and those of the Law Society, on that.

The Commissioner referenced the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST. It would be very useful if the representatives addressed that point. I also note that the Commissioner made the point that "extending the already accurate, reliable and safe usage of image analysis and biometric identification technology beyond abuse cases to other serious ... investigations is essential for An Garda Síochána to keep people safe..." The ICCL has written in the past about the experience of referrals from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, which used some of these tools. Will its representatives talk about them and their accuracy and reliability?

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