Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

That is the point. It is obvious that we should be talking about Garda stations which are used for interview purposes. Some serious issues relating to the extent of the monitoring which would take place need to be considered. It is right that witness statements should be recorded. The Minister has raised some legitimate points about the use and abuse of this system by the godfathers of crime. I suggest that this matter does not need to be dealt with by means of legislation. Some practical and administrative issues need to be considered. It is probably an area that should be the subject of a separate and detailed discussion and debate at some stage, possibly at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. At this stage, I am not in favour of the suggestion that "all Garda stations shall be internally and externally monitored and recorded by CCTV". I do not think the case has been made for such an approach.

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