Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister concluded by asking for the support of the House for as swift a passage of the Bill as possible. We will not be found wanting on this side of the House. We support the Bill and we see it as a common-sense approach to cracking down on crimes in our State and in other member states. Ireland was supposed to implement the Prüm decision by August 2011, so it is well overdue. Despite purporting to be the party of law and order, Fine Gael has sat on its hands for almost seven years and failed to implement what is needed. Rapid improvement in road and other transport infrastructure has made it easier and easier for criminals to move within and across jurisdictions. Within Ireland, there has been a large spike in the number of travelling criminal gangs using the motorway network to move quickly between parts of the country. It is vital, therefore, that we make every effort to keep pace with criminals who are exploiting every available technology and opportunity to prey on innocent citizens. We need to be proactive and innovative in our fight against crime and this ratification represents just one step we need to take to keep our citizens safe.

The Prüm decisions allow authorities in each member state, and Iceland and Norway, to search each other's national databases of vehicle registrations, DNA fingerprints, information to the EU's vehicle and transport network. I understand from the Minister's speech that DNA and fingerprinting will come on board at a later stage and we are only dealing with vehicle registration today. Perhaps he could clarify.

The Bill designates the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport as the national contact point for receiving and processing requests for vehicle registration data and it designates the authorities with the power to conduct the searches of databases, which will be selected members of An Garda Síochána and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Many of the provisions of the Bill relate to ensuring that the data supplied in this database is protected and correct. Member states must make all reasonable efforts to identify incorrect data and amend it. It must also delete any data that is received erroneously, for example, in cases where a search is conducted for a mistyped vehicle identification number. Searches may be conducted for the following purposes: the prevention and investigation of criminal offences; dealing with other offences coming under the jurisdiction of another member state; and maintaining public liability.

As regards dealing with other offences in the jurisdiction of certain member states, courts or prosecution services, it states that transport and driving regulations in some EU member states are treated as administrative, rather than criminal legal matters but breaches can, nevertheless, be punished as offences. Can the Minister clarify what member states this relates to for traffic or driving regulations? According to Oireachtas research, certain EU member states' transport and driving regulations are treated as administrative rather than criminal legal matters. Can the Minister clarify whether, in certain member states, driving offences will be covered under this?

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