Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 48:

In page 19, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(6) (a) The Commissioner shall be prohibited from recording a line that could be used to provide tip-offs, leads or confidential information.

(b) Any evidence gathered from a recording of a line that could be used to provide tip-offs, leads or confidential information shall be inadmissible in court.”.

Obviously, this amendment seeks to insert a provision to the effect that "The Commissioner shall be prohibited from recording a line that could be used to provide tip-offs, leads or confidential information." In their work, members of An Garda Síóchána rely on intelligence from within their community and within the community. Sometimes tip-offs, leads and confidential information come from phone lines. However, if sources think they are being recorded or could be traced, this may well deter people from coming forward. This amendment seeks to ensure that those phone lines are protected so that gardaí can gather intel that essential for doing their job.