Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Criminal Records

9:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the new procedures planned by the gardaí to ensure that officers do not access people's criminal records for anything other than investigative purposes, particularly in view of the concerns expressed by the Garda Ombudsman Commission regarding the release of inaccurate information concerning a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31169/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The matter to which the Deputy refers concerns the alleged leaking of official material from Garda sources to the media relating to a deceased person. An investigation under section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 into the matter was carried out by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the full text of that report is available on its website.

The Ombudsman Commission report recommends to the Garda Commissioner that supervisory ranks of An Garda Síochána should regularly monitor the use of PULSE to ensure that members adhere to their legal and disciplinary obligations with regard to its proper use. The report also recommends that suitable measures be put in place by the Garda authorities to ensure audit trails of the usage of PULSE and any other official information systems can always be accurate and verifiable.

With regard to PULSE, An Garda Síochána have detailed procedures and instructions in place on the operation of the PULSE system. The PULSE system incorporates an accurate audit system which records all record creations and updates made on the system. The audit record includes the date and time when the update on the system took place and contains details of the user signed onto the system at that time. Audit-trails also record all inquires made on the core items of interest on the PULSE system including Person and Vehicle. Audit records are written at the time the associated transaction took place. These audit records can only be accessed centrally and are not available or visible to the users.

In response to the report, a review to consider the matters raised and identify options for enhanced usage of the PULSE Audit data in respect of the monitoring of data access has been conducted by the Gardaí. Specific proposals in this regard have been formulated and are presently under consideration by senior Garda management. Under these proposals an 'Exceptional activity level report' and related business process has been advanced which will highlight to Garda Management specific PULSE records which are subject to a high level of data access activity occurring within a defined period. This new functionality will be included in the next major release of PULSE.

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