Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill provides a legal basis for the use of body-worn cameras by members of An Garda Síochána, and for the extension of the circumstances in which CCTV and automatic number plate recognition devices may be used by the Garda. These changes were suggested as part of the report by the Commission on the Future of Policing. We in Sinn Féin are in favour of the use of body camera technologies as long as there is sufficient training for gardaí and measures are put in place to ensure the protection of all data collected.

The majority of policing services in Europe have been using body and dashboard cameras for many years. We believe gardaí should have the use of this technology in an appropriate manner. Fine Gael has held the justice Ministry for over a decade and has dragged its feet with introducing this legislation. Body camera footage is believed to act as a deterrent for those wishing to assault or intimidate gardaí. It can also assist in gathering evidence. It is vital that we get this legislation right and strike the balance between privacy and protection. I understand that some people will have privacy concerns, and these must be allayed. The Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors are in favour of using this technology. We must take on board any advice offered by the Data Protection Commissioner.

It would be remiss of me, as we are discussing the Garda, not to mention the elephant in the room and that is the issue of Garda resources. Yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m. there was an attempted abduction of a child outside a secondary school in Rathangan, County Kildare. The parents phoned the local Garda station and got no answer. They phoned Kildare town Garda station to be told that the garda was on her own in the station and she would arrange a car to call out to take a statement. Over four hours later, the gardaí arrived. This is not acceptable. I do not blame the individual gardaí, who handled the issue well; I blame successive Governments that have starved our Garda of resources.

The Minister should not take my word for it; he should come down to Kildare on Monday, March 6 at 3 p.m. to the meeting of the joint policing committee. Every answer to the issues I or other colleagues raise is that the Garda is doing its best but that the resources need to be provided. This Government's record is shameful; we have had enough of its hand-wringing and indifference. Our court system needs investment. Kildare has a population of 250,000 and we need a second District Court judge. We have the lowest garda numbers per capita in the State. We have had enough of excuses and we need something done.

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