Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Forensic Science Ireland plays an invaluable and important role in our criminal justice system. When gardaí seize a substance they believe to be a drug, they have to send it for testing. They send it to Forensic Science Ireland and it carries out the test to determine whether the drug is illegal and what is its make-up. I tabled this question because there were recent reports in a newspaper that indicated the establishment of the national DNA database has overwhelmed the State laboratory where Forensic Science Ireland works and that it has led to a large backlog of testing of illegal drugs seizures. The Minister pointed out in his answer that the backlog is some 2,800 tests. It is important, even though no cases have collapsed, that the Minister and Government ensure the backlog is cleared up rapidly. There is no doubt the establishment of the national DNA database is an essential part of our criminal justice system. It must proceed. As a result of a lot of resources being devoted to that, the work being carried out by Forensic Science Ireland is being interfered with. Does the Minister agree the situation is less than ideal and that it has to be addressed, otherwise we will have cases collapsing?

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