Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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With regard to fingerprints, there is an existing directive and they are a legitimate requirement. I am aware of a case where an applicant here in Ireland claimed to be from a certain country which is noted for conflict. The person was fingerprinted in Britain initially and it emerged that the person was from a different country in Africa. When an Irish check was done the authorities could demonstrate that it was a false application and an abuse of the asylum process. That is an example of how the existing system works and, therefore, balance exists.

I have two more questions. First, the UNHCR has argued that the use of latent fingerprints could lead to multiple matches in the existing system. Obviously I am not an expert in this area. However, due to the fragmentary aspect of fingerprints there is a concern there might be a false match. Has the Department here examined the matter? The UNHCR has argued that there is a flaw in the current fingerprint system that could lead to a false match.