Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We could all come up with many forms of data-gathering devices. If toll tag readers or speed guns are needed, then specify them. To say technology evolves all the time and moves so fast that we might need to use it before we have time to legislate for it is a very dangerous message to send. The Minister has recognised the concerns about artificial intelligence, the use of algorithms and facial recognition. If, in some other legislation, the Government is running to implement things before they are regulated or before there is proper regulation and monitoring of them, it is not the case that we should be in such a hurry to use any new technology that can be used to gather data that we would not have time to legislate properly for it, regulate it and monitor it. I do not agree that we should be able to have the flexibility to use as quickly as possible whatever is available in terms of data gathering and surveillance. It is appropriate, and it is the precautionary principle at an EU level that is being discussed in terms of legislation and directives at an EU level, that we should think first and legislate or regulate first before we go using whatever new thing might be seen at a trade fair or taken up by An Garda Síochána or anybody else who thinks it would be great and would love to use it.Therefore, it is appropriate that the Minister specifies and takes appropriate action, be it regulatory and legislative, in respect of any new data gathering devices or technologies that are being introduced. To do the opposite is reckless.