Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the powers available to the Garda to police the Internet and if these include the power to censor; the number of officers tasked with policing the Internet; the parameters based on which policing takes place; the cost of such policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9210/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In the investigation of criminal offences, including offences facilitated by use of the internet, the Garda Síochána make appropriate use of the powers of investigation relevant to each offence.

I draw the attention of the Deputy to the fact that a number of enactments include provisions capable of combating the criminal use of technology, including the internet. The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 address, respectively, racist crime, the advertising of brothels and prostitution, and child pornography. Members of the Garda Síochána also receive training in the use of the most up-to-date technology relevant to investigating the use of the internet in the commission of these and other offences.