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

My Topical Issue matter follows a second report in The Sunday Timesnewspaper about the challenges faced by the computer crime investigation unit of An Garda Síochána. The challenges, in terms of resources and the apparent poor level of modern technology to keep up with changes, has led to a significant backlog. It is reported that there is a backlog of 1,000 cases. I hope the Minister can comment on the matter.

A court case was referenced in the article in The Sunday Timesby the journalist, John Mooney. He referred to a case in Tipperary that was of a level 5 category, which is the most heinous type of child pornography. The case fell through because of the delays in coming to prosecution.

There is significant concern in child protection sectors that anybody allegedly looking at level 5 child pornography would get off because of resource issues.

Based on current resources, the reported backlog of more than 1,000 cases would take three years to clear. We need urgent assurance from the Minister that the technology, which apparently is antiquated, will be brought up to spec as soon as possible and that the necessary personnel resources will be deployed. The Minister, as a former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, will appreciate we need to send a clear signal immediately that when we get intelligence, and apparently we receive intelligence on an ongoing basis from our international policing partners and the states with which we work on these matters, we have the ability to move quickly and act on this intelligence. We cannot have a situation where persons inclined to view the most heinous type of child pornography would have a sense they may get off due to resource or technology issues. Will we immediately address this? I call on the Minister to make a statement on the reports. I appreciate the Minister is new in the position and as such I will give her a fair wind. As these matters have been brought to her attention will she move to address them as soon as possible?

Apparently two offenders were convicted in 2012, but in 2003 there were 38. I do not think anybody believes there has been a dramatic decline in these types of offences and due to the reports the concern is that there are resources issues in the computer crime investigation unit and the antiquated type of equipment with which it works. This is backed up by assertions of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, that we are losing the battle against these people who are serious threat to our society. I ask for urgent reassurance from the Minister.

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