Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The idea of establishing a DNA databank has been with us since the early 2000s and as all Members are aware, there have been a number of varying attempts to have it implemented here in Ireland. Such attempts have faced a number of obstructions, most notably in 2008 vis-à-vis the decision in the case of S and Marper v. the United Kingdom when the European Court of Human Rights held that the retention in England and Wales of DNA samples and profiles in circumstances where there is an acquittal or where proceedings are either dropped or not proceeded with, disproportionately violated the individual's right to privacy as protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Sinn Féin believes the lawful and effective collection and use of forensic evidence from crime scenes, victims and suspects can be crucial for obtaining sound convictions that are not based on confession evidence alone, a practice that has led to widespread abuse of due process rights.

I note the fly is now beside me. Clearly it is attracted by microphones.

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