James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his work to permit the retrospective use of biometric technologies by the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36167/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives.

This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use of body-worn cameras by An Garda Síochána, for Garda use of automatic numberplate recognition and for the reform of Garda use of CCTV.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to allow for the use of biometric technologies in certain, very controlled circumstances as a tool to process evidence in serious cases. The General Scheme of the Recording Devices (Amendment) Bill was published in 2023 and underwent pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Justice committee in February 2024, during which experts from across this complex area discussed its provisions.

Work is well advanced on the drafting of a Bill to amend the Recording Devices Act to provide for certain retrospective use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition. Officials within my Department continue to work closely with the Office of the Attorney General and consult with An Garda Síochána with a view to progressing the Bill toward publication.

It should be noted that this Bill does not provide for the use of live FRT, although I intend to bring forward further legislation to provide for live FRT in a subsequent Bill, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.