Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Section 17(2) states, "For the purposes of section 1(1)(d) of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938 a member of the Garda Síochána may take and receive a statutory declaration made under subsection (1)." Subsection (1) refers to the person making the statement rather than a person who is at the time suspected of having committed an offence. Is there not a conflict of interest in giving powers to the Garda to take a statutory declaration?