Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which forensic technology available to An Garda Síochána remains comparable to that in other jurisdictions adjoining and throughout Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35205/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the two bodies responsible for forensics in relation to policing in Ireland are the Garda Síochána National Technical Bureau and Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) which is under my Department. Both operate to the highest standards and their staff are to be commended on their expertise and dedication to the application of science to crime investigation in Ireland over many years.

The Garda National Technical Bureau provides assistance and technical support in the investigation of crime by conducting forensic examinations of crime scenes and the forensic examination of exhibits from such crime scenes and elsewhere. The Technical Bureau is a modern forensic examination facility with state of the art examination equipment and appropriately trained and qualified expert personnel in the areas of fingerprint examination, ballistic and firearm examination, forensic photography, forensic document and handwriting examination and the mapping of crime scenes. The Bureau received ISO 17025 accreditation in February 2016.

FSI contributes to the investigation of violent and sexual crime through the application of body fluid identification techniques and DNA technology, to the investigation of fatal shootings, burglaries and hit and run traffic accidents and the detection of firearm residue. Highly trained and dedicated staff provide scientific analysis and objective expert evidence to international standards. FSI has also received ISO 17025 accreditation and is a member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI).