Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming today. My colleague, Senator Joe O’Reilly, who is the spokesperson on foreign affairs and defence could not be here, so I am covering for him. As the Minister said, this is a technical Bill but, essentially, it is quite simple as well. All we are trying to do is have the military and the Defence Forces be in line with what An Garda Síochána is doing with its colleagues across EU member states.

When the Bill went through the Dáil, as the Minister said, it received backing from all sides. I think that will be quite similar here today. I welcome the Bill. It gives the Military Police the power to take DNA and other evidence for investigations to increase the capabilities of the Military Police that are compromised by the lack of structure to take evidence at the moment. This Bill will bring the Military Police in line with An Garda Síochána. It also applies to where a member of the Defence Forces is placed in service custody, quite similar again to An Garda Síochána. In addition, it includes the sharing of information, DNA and fingerprints between EU member states. As the Minister said, this is only used in serious cases. It will enhance the structure between all the EU member states in fighting serious crime. As has been said by many in the Lower House, this will be agreed by all sides and improve our capabilities to manage serious criminal activities. On Fine Gael’s behalf, I welcome this Bill. We thank the Minister for the work he and his officials have put into this legislation.