Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 12 December 2012 (details supplied), if he will state the number of human remains that are in possession of the Forensic Science Laboratory that remain unidentified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my reply of 12 December 2012, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, despite numerous attempts by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to extract DNA from the remains in question in an effort to generate DNA profiles, all attempts to date have proved unsuccessful. I am further informed that the remains in question comprise four single or partial bones.

In my previous reply I also mentioned that new profiling technology will be introduced at the FSL, in early 2013, and it is expected that further tests will be carried out on the remains which have been recovered using this technology. I also referred to the advice that the extraction of DNA profiles from bones that have been in water for a long period of time is extremely difficult as the sea has been found to cause extensive degrading of Nuclear DNA over time. In this regard it would be appropriate to caution against raising expectations in relation to any further testing that may be carried out.

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.