Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 754: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda stations which have access to audio equipment for recording interviews with suspects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31408/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are 251 interview rooms fitted with audio/video interview recording facilities in 146 Garda stations. Where a Garda station is not equipped with an audio/video system, a person to be interviewed in accordance with the Regulations will be taken to the nearest Garda station with such equipment.

In this regard it should be noted that it was never the intention that all Garda stations would be equipped to carry out audio/video recording of interviews. Rather the intention was that a sufficient number of interview rooms in Garda stations across the country be equipped to provide a broad nationwide coverage. In this context, the Garda authorities have advised me that a Garda survey indicates that at 31st May 2009 some 99.1% of interviews as specified in the Regulations were being recorded. Interviews are not recorded for a number of reasons including the arrested person declining to have the interview recorded or the equipment already being in use or otherwise unavailable.