Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will address Deputy Pringle initially as he outlined where the Bill said that the Commissioner shall consult. He then outlined all of the various different bodies and he, perhaps, conveniently stopped then by saying "and so forth" because section (d) states:

(d) shall ensure that the draft code of practice is published on the website of the Garda Síochána in order to allow persons a period that he or she shall specify to

make written representations in relation to the draft code,

This particular section (d) is specifically to ensure that it is not just for the authority, the Ombudsman, the inspectorate, or the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, but that any other person has an opportunity to make their views known, particularly where a code of conduct has been set out. Obviously, this is something that is very new, with the introduction of body-worn cameras. The code of conduct is a very important oversight mechanism in understanding how this technology is going to be deployed and used. This is to ensure that there is that accountability and transparency which is completely right and appropriate. This section (d) clearly states that a person, and this can apply to any person, will have an opportunity to make a written representation and that is essentially a public consultation.

To be clear about this, because I am aware that there were different discussions at the Cabinet, this obviously refers to this particular section which is focused on the code of practice. There was a wider discussion around an awareness raising campaign on the legislation itself and the introduction of body-worn cameras. This is obviously going to happen and I will give a commitment that this is something that will happen once the Bill is enacted. Is it the intention that this information campaign would solely focus on the draft code of practice, or are we talking in a much wider space because that is the discussion which took place on Committee Stage?

I am very happy to look at it on an either/or basis and to look at what generally happens in other legislation and I do know and Deputy Howlin will be well aware of Coco's law, which was passed almost three years ago, where it was not expressly stated but there was a clear commitment from the Government, working with other agencies, to ensure that there was a campaign highlighting the Bill and its benefits and ensuring that it targeted those who we were very much trying to target and, in particular, younger people. There was a success rate because of that. The number of people engaging with the hotline and with the amount of prosecutions then going to An Garda Síochána has greatly benefited because of the consultation. I fully agree with all of the Deputies. I believe that public consultations are appropriate but I do not believe it is necessary to include that in every single piece of legislation and it is something I am happy to discuss further with the Deputies to see perhaps how we can ensure that it certainly happens.

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