Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will publish the review (details supplied) into the resource needs of the forensic laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the delay in building a state of the art forensic laboratory. [24816/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will address the personnel shortages at the State Forensic Laboratory in an effort to speed up Garda preparation of books of evidence which in turn could help reduce the numbers absconding while on bail. [25464/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 572 together.

The position is that my Department works closely with the Forensic Science Laboratory in assessing and responding to its needs. To this end an additional 10 staff were sanctioned for the Laboratory in December of last year and, on foot of the analysis referred to by the Deputy, it is expected that staffing will be increased further in the near future. The review in question, which was carried out by an international expert, addressed a range of issues and is currently under consideration in my Department, in conjunction with management at the Laboratory. The relevant staff associations have been provided with a copy of its findings. I can also inform the Deputy that arrangements are in place between the Laboratory and the Garda which provide for high priority cases to be examined immediately upon receipt. These arrangements are reinforced by ongoing interaction between the Laboratory and the Garda authorities with a view to ensuring that the needs of crime detection and prosecution are met.

In so far as the provision of a new Laboratory is concerned, plans to provide this facility within the Garda Headquarters complex were found not to be feasible. It remains a priority, however, to provide a new facility for the Forensic Science Laboratory and development of this project will proceed as a matter of urgency.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on comments made by the director of the State Forensic Laboratory which will operate the Government's proposed DNA database who stated that the DNA database poses no threat to human rights, in particular given the conflicting grave concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission who pointed to far reaching implications for human rights; and if the first step in the protection of human rights must be a full recognition of all the threats posed to same. [24817/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Last February the Government approved the Heads of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill. The Bill will provide for the establishment of a DNA database. The Heads as approved by the Government were sent to the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Commission was invited to submit its comments on the proposal. I was very pleased to receive those comments in early August. They are being examined by my Department and where possible, I would propose to take as many as possible of the Commission's recommendations into account while the Bill is being drafted.

I have noted the comments of the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory on the proposal and on the Commission's comments. She usefully points to the contribution DNA sampling can make to the investigation of crime.

The objective when framing the proposals was to ensure we provided the Garda with a comprehensive database that could be relied on as a source of reliable intelligence while also ensuring the safeguards that are included were strong, verifiable and effective. I am satisfied that balance has been achieved.