Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta Coveney. Tá an ceart ag an Seanadóir Martin nuair a deir sé go bhfuil an tAire i gcónaí díograiseach ag teacht os comhair an tSeanaid. Gabhaim mo leithscéal leis an Aire as a chur i láthair a chailleadh inniu.

The Minister is very welcome to the House. I apologise for missing his contribution. He will know from being at the Council of Europe that I am a few Senators down this week. It is one of those days of running from one thing to the other. We welcome the Bill. In effect, it is the adoption of a code of practice with respect to the use of forensic evidence in the gathering of evidence in circumstances where military personnel are suspected of certain offences under military law. It is also to provide for the establishment and operation by Forensic Science Ireland of the Department of Justice of a DNA (Military Police) database system. It is an important development in the ongoing process of modernising the Defence Forces, the means it employs to gather evidence and the rules which govern this. It is important the Minister is able to give an undertaking, because of the difficulties with recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces, that there will be sufficient resources available within the Military Police to ensure the detail contained in the roll-out of this Bill can be put into effect practically on the ground.

My colleague, Deputy John Brady, supported this Bill on Committee Stage but he also raised concerns that there is no set period to cover arrests and detention periods within the Defence Forces. This is an area of concern that requires attention in the time ahead. There are currently no stipulations regarding the extension of arrest periods, or who has the authority to extend these periods. There is a need for further amendments to the Defence Act to bring this up to the standard of other areas of military law. While we are debating the Bill, will the Minister update us on the commission on the future of the Defence Forces and when he thinks he will be able to take it before this House?