Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I acknowledge that devices are available for purchase by individual car owners and that it is entirely a matter for owners if they wish to do so. What would be the point of tracking one's stolen vehicle to a lock-up or breaker's yard that is being manned by criminals? The car owner would probably not be able to pass the information to the Garda because it would be too late. The tracking devices currently available can generally be dismantled. While it may well be easy to dismantle them, at least under my proposal Garda would have access to information on stolen vehicles at the critical time, namely, in the period between theft and storage. If criminals believe or realise that one of these devices is fitted to a car, would they be prepared to risk coming under immediate Garda surveillance and getting caught?

I accept that a multi-agency approach is required, specifically co-operation between the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality. Deputies repeatedly encounter the silo aspect of Government. Different Ministers have responsibility for different Departments and problems arise when one raises an issue that traverses Departments. This culture needs to be addressed.

Tracking technology is improving and becoming cheaper all the time. We need to find a legislative solution for implementing a technological framework that would revolutionise the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat crime, particularly mobile crime, by taking the legs from under the criminal. The Government must give this issue much greater priority, especially against the background of the earlier debate on criminal justice legislation and the public discussion that has taken place in recent weeks.

I urge the Minister of State to raise this issue with the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality. I suggest that a feasibility study and pre-legislative work be done to assess whether there are any pitfalls in my proposal. A legislative solution could be found that enables the use of this existing technology. Additional resources are being provided to the Garda, including new recruits and extra vehicles. Smart policing means we must give serious consideration to using technology to beat criminals. Investment in tracking technology would deliver a significant return to the State. I urge the Minister to take my proposal to the appropriate Departments.

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