Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the question of the witness protection scheme, the Minister met the Garda Commissioner to discuss this yesterday. The scheme is ten years in existence. It is under the direct operational control and administration of the Garda Commissioner, in response to attempts by criminal and other groups to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system. A review of that scheme was completed just short of two years ago. Certain enhancements were made in its operation and they have been implemented. For obvious reasons it is not the practice to comment on the details of the operation of the scheme and I will not do that, but as recently as yesterday, it was looked at again. The real issue is the willingness of witnesses to participate and not the basis of the statutory scheme. Quite frankly, the Garda Commissioner and senior management do not believe that changing the basis of the scheme would be of help. Some Deputies may believe it would but I am stating the factual position. Deputy Gilmore is correct that the Garda by and large know who is involved in these groups and gangs, but we live in a democracy where people have constitutional rights, for example to remain silent. During the term of the last Government we brought in very severe and tough measures that were within the limits we thought were reasonably safe.

The Garda has asked the Government to deliver the schemes I mentioned at the start and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is proceeding with the automated number plate recognition system, the automated fingerprint identification system, the automated ballistic identification system and moving administrative staff to areas where it frees up numbers. These are practical measures which aid the Garda and they must be viewed in the knowledge that the Garda has the capacity to purchase 1,400 vehicles a year. We are in a position to be able to give the Garda all the things for which it has asked.

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