Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Recent attacks on members of An Garda Síochána and other instances in which gardaí have been engaged in crowd control, given heightened tensions at certain events in recent times, have reinforced the case for body cameras to be deployed and used. We are talking about enhancing the ability of gardaí to effectively and safely carry out their duties, which include ensuring the safety of the public and of course, their own safety, deterring any potential illegal or criminal behaviour and providing evidence where necessary.

Other jurisdictions have been using this technology for years and it is about time we gave our gardaí similar resources. If we are to expect our gardaí to be able to fully and effectively fulfil their roles in a manner that ensures the safety of the community they serve and has tangible results, we must give them the tools to do so. Unfortunately, we have seen a lethargy on the part of Fine Gael, which has led the Department of Justice for more than a decade, to provide our gardaí with this level of technology. I say that before making any mention of Garda numbers.

I am supportive of this measure. Body camera footage can act as a deterrent in cases of people who may wish to assault or intimidate gardaí as they carry out their work. A measure that can help to avoid this kind of assault from happening is important for gardaí and the effective policing of the communities that count on them. It also has the capacity to provide protection to our gardaí from spurious campaigns to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, thereby saving on resources and avoiding gardaí being unnecessarily taken from front-line duty.

However, it can also have a direct impact on the ability to provide supportive evidence in cases of assault. Court cases such as these can be traumatising for their victim who, without the assistance of body camera footage, have to recount their trauma over and again. The role body cameras can play in this regard is positive.

As with all technology that has the ability to capture data, we have to strike the right balance between protection and privacy. This requirement is fully justified and while some oppose it because of privacy concerns, the Garda Representative Association, GRA, has expressed its eagerness to ensure that its members will be properly trained to understand the correct situations in which it may be necessary to use these devices and to prevent overuse of this system, ensuring appropriate discretion. My constituency, like many others, has its own problems and the Garda faces its own challenges. Assaults are up, as are crimes against the person.

Equipping gardaí with the technology that enhances their ability to protect themselves and their communities is an important development. We need to strike the correct balance between what is proposed and other technology out there. However, it does not let the Government off the hook when it comes to the need for adequate Garda numbers and the provision of the resources that would enable our gardaí to work as effectively as we would wish.

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