Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and I am of course aware of the recent reports regarding the investigation of child pornography cases. At the outset let me assure the Deputy I am determined that we do all we possibly can to counteract the sexual exploitation of children. Very properly, we already have significant penalties for child pornography offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

When this matter came to my attention, I immediately sought a report from the Acting Garda Commissioner on the question of any backlogs in this area, including with respect to proposals to address any difficulties which have arisen. As Deputies will appreciate, specific investigative strategies are a matter for An Garda Síochána but I consider it essential, as does the Deputy, that gardaí are in a position to investigate these crimes effectively. I have now received a preliminary report on the matter from the Acting Commissioner which addresses the role of the Garda computer crime investigation unit, CCIU, and its central input in the investigation of these kinds of crimes.

A review of processes at the CCIU has been conducted with a view to reducing the time taken to conduct the forensic examination of suspect computer media in the context of seeking to identify evidence of child pornography images. Arising from this, and in the light of consultations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and senior counsel, new standard operating guidelines were put in place in October 2013. The guidelines seek to ensure that relevant procedures are as efficient as possible, consistent with what is required to support effective prosecutions. I am further advised that all examinations of suspect media are now conducted according to these guidelines. The aim of the guidelines is to ensure effective action is taken in a timely way to deal with this issue.

The phenomenon of Internet and computer crime, with its transnational dimension, presents enormous challenges to police forces. I am informed that approximately 70% of crime in this area is transnational. It is also challenging with respect to the deployment of resources to tackle this issue. It is complex, complicated and a continuously emerging area for An Garda Síochána to deal with and cuts across a number of other areas as well as child pornography.

The Acting Garda Commissioner has directed an immediate comprehensive review and a strategic realignment of capacity to deal with crimes of this nature, including in the area of child pornography. This will involve liaison with international partners because so much of it is transnational and a key part is linking with partners in Europe and worldwide so national experts can come together to figure out the best collaborative approaches to deal with this type of crime.

I welcome the important review done in this area by the Acting Garda Commissioner and following examination of the report which I received today, I intend to meet her to discuss the issues raised by the Deputy and, in particular, to ensure that child pornography cases are pursued rigorously and quickly. I will raise with the Acting Commissioner the points made by Deputy Mac Lochlainn in his contribution today.

The challenges faced in detecting and prosecuting this type of computer crime are very real and are faced by law enforcement throughout the world. In more than any other area, however, when it comes to the shocking abuse of children that child pornography represents, I will be insistent that we come up with strategies to ensure these cases are dealt with in a timely way and that the various obstacles mentioned by the Deputy are overcome.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As I stated, I will meet the Acting Garda Commissioner shortly to discuss the detail of the report and see what are the implications for dealing with these cases quickly and effectively.

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