Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a decision has been made to conduct tests on unidentified remains found off the south east to determine whether they are part of the remains of men lost at sea. [3470/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will recall from previous replies on this issue, the Garda authorities have advised that despite numerous attempts by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to generate DNA profiles from the remains recovered off the South-East coast, all attempts to date have proved unsuccessful.

I am also advised that Garda enquiries with the FSL indicate that further tests outside the jurisdiction may not necessarily be any more successful than testing that has taken place to date in the FSL. I am also informed that new profiling technology will be introduced at the FSL in the early part of this year, and it is expected that further tests will be carried out on the remains which have been recovered using this technology.

I am very much aware of the concerns which have been expressed in relation to these remains and my Department has conveyed these concerns to the Garda authorities. I am confident that in cases of missing persons, whether at sea or on land, An Garda Síochána does all in its power to assist families of those who have been lost and, in particular, would contact families when they have any information of substance to impart.