Ms Lois West:

In the entire time that the Garda Síochána analysis service, GSAS, has been in existence, we have always brought matters of data quality concern to senior Garda management or to our recording centre in Castlebar. A small data quality unit has been established within the information services centre in Castlebar. I am sure that is making a difference in respect of data quality. However, we have also raised concerns about the limitations of that. A data quality group can only make an assessment on the basis of the information that is on PULSE.

As an example, if an incident is created as an assault but there was actually a fatality, that would not be apparent to the information services centre. It would make the presumption that the incident was classified correctly when indeed it is not. It should be a homicide. Yes, I have ongoing data quality concerns. I do not necessarily feel it would be pertinent to get into the specifics of other issues todaybut it is an ongoing problem and something with which An Garda Síochána does struggle.