Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I move amendment No. 11:

In page 10, line 32, to delete "orally" and substitute "remotely by video".

I accept that the section relates to people with physical disabilities. What I am saying is that if a person cannot physically present at Garda station, and there are reasons this may be the case, then it should be done by video. We all have devices that have video cameras on them. We can use WhatsApp or any type of other video app on the phone to have a conversation with the Garda. Gardaí need to have the opportunity to see what the individual looks like and what their demeanour is. This cannot be done over the phone. We must remember the reason we are moving to a situation where people need to present at a Garda station and engage with gardaí is because of the lack of engagement that has happened up to now. We are enshrining in this law analogue technology to monitor potentially a high-risk sex offender who is using the latest digital technology to continue the exploitation of children or anyone else they might want to abuse if they so wish or are so inclined. We are saying in terms of engagement with the Garda they can do it over the phone. This is not good enough. The technology is there today to allow this to happen easily by means of a video call.

That should be the mechanism used in cases where people cannot physically present, for whatever reason, at the local Garda station.