Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the online portal to enable citizens to report road traffic offences to assist An Garda Síochána with enforcement to improve road safety for all road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7684/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy, including the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, and the promotion and advancement of road safety, falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

I can inform the Deputy that the current Traffic Watch facility allows for members of the public to report driver behaviour to An Garda Síochána. Matters reported via this facility are forwarded to the relevant local Garda Office for investigation. Similarly, citizens may make complaints to any member of An Garda Síochána or through the Garda website.

Under Action 29 of the Road Safety Strategy, An Garda Síochána will explore the potential of an online portal for road users to upload footage of road traffic offences which could assist in prosecutions. I understand that on 4 October 2022, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman gave the Joint Committee on Justice an update on this Action, and indicated An Garda Síochána’s commitment to the portal.

I can also inform the Deputy that the legal advice made available to me indicates that specific legislative provisions will not be required for an online portal. Section 41 of the Data Protection Act 2018 provides a lawful basis for personal data collected for one purpose to be processed for another purpose, where such onward processing is for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences.

Therefore, members of the public who collect dashcam footage are entitled to pass it on to An Garda Síochána, and An Garda Síochána is entitled to process it for the law enforcement purposes mentioned. An Garda Síochána would need to process such data in line with its data protection obligations generally and would be required to put guidelines in place for dealing with the data obtained, its retention and destruction.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that uploading footage through an online portal as envisaged would only be a first step. An Garda Síochána would require a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to store, manage and process any footage received.

I am further advised that a DEMS is a prerequisite for the deployment of body worn cameras, which is being provided for in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill.

The project to introduce body worn cameras and the accompanying DEMS, commencing with the procurement process, will be initiated by the Commissioner this year, following the enactment of the supporting legislation.

As part of this project, it is planned to introduce an online portal to enable the public to upload and submit video to An Garda Síochána. Given the lengthy likely procurement process and the follow-on implementation period it is envisaged that the introduction of such an online portal will be during 2024 at the earliest.

It is important to note that road traffic enforcement remains a core policing function of An Garda Síochána. The Garda National Roads Policing Bureau ensures a consistent approach to road safety and enforcement of road traffic legislation across the country.

It is also important to emphasise that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all members of An Garda Síochána, in addition to the employment of specific enforcement operations.

I would of course encourage any member of the public to report any incidents of dangerous driving directly to An Garda Síochána.