Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ossian Smyth for raising this issue not just today but on a regular basis. The short answer to his question is "Yes", testing has started. My understanding is that beta testing of the early release of the software is seeking feedback aimed at improving its quality before it is released. The application has been deployed as part of a field trial within An Garda Síochána. That trial has been running for two weeks and it will give us some very good information. There is good progress being made and I hope that I, or possibly my successor, will be in a position soon to seek formal Government approval to roll out the app. I have quite a lot of information here and I can arrange for a further updated briefing. It is about making sure that we get the app entirely right. The data protection impact assessment and the source code have not yet been published but I have given a commitment that they will both be published before the launch of the app because that is very important for public buy-in. The field work is under way and I thank An Garda Síochána for its members' participation. I hope to be in a position in the next few weeks to ask Government to formally approve the app and, in advance of its launch, to have the data protection information and source code published.

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