Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to an increase in the number of strip searches taking place in Belmullet Garda Station, County Mayo since the rape tape incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29762/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Information regarding the number of searches involving the removal of clothing that have taken place in Bellmullet Garda Station since the incident in question took place on 31 March 2011, as compared to the number that took place there prior to it, is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to attempt to extrapolate. Garda management have informed me that they are not aware of any increase in such searches in the station referred to.

As I mentioned in my reply to a similar question on 8 May last, the searching of a person in custody is governed by the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) Regulations, 1987 and 2006. Members of the Garda Síochána who fail to observe any provision of the regulations are liable to disciplinary proceedings and members of the public, who believe they have been mistreated, are entitled to make a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.