Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-04
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Garret Kelleher (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel

Is mian liom, ar son Sheanadóirí Fhine Gael, ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire, an Teachta O’Callaghan, as teacht isteach tráthnóna chun páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Cuirim fáilte roimhe. Cuirim fáilte chomh maith roimh an méid atá leagtha amach sa Bhille seo agus an dul chun cinn atá molta chun cumhachtaí breise a thabhairt do bhaill an Gharda Síochána ar fud na tíre. Cuirim fáilte áirithe roimh na moltaí a bhaineann le cumhachtaí breise ó thaobh gléasanna leictreonacha a chuardach. De réir mar a thagann athraithe ar an teicneolaíocht, caithfidh muid a bheith réidh le déileáil leo. Chomh fada is a bhaineann sé liom, tá sé sin le feiceáil sa Bhille atá os ár gcomhair inniu.
On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I would like to support the general principles of the Bill before us this evening, particularly in relation to its provisions for the areas of search, seizure, arrest and detention. Although the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has broadly welcomed the Bill, as was alluded to by Senator Boyhan, I also note some concerns it has raised, specifically in relation to human rights safeguards and the lack of specific reference to these rights in the wording of the Bill. Perhaps the Minister might make reference to this in his response to the debate and tie this in with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
The gaps in statutory safeguards referenced by the Minister in his opening remarks, in my view, have been adequately addressed and clarity has been brought to where some legal ambiguity previously existed.
In relation to safeguarding and civil liberties, I am happy that significant progress is being made under Part 5 and section 30 of the Bill on the proposed modernised framework for the treatment of persons in Garda custody, including the strengthening of access to legal representation, giving effect to Directive 2013/48/EU on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and European arrest warrant proceedings.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive outlining of each of the sections and Parts of the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill, which I am satisfied achieves his stated objective of bringing legal clarity to where it is needed. We fully support the Bill.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-04/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:35+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-04