An Garda Síochána
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

It would be primary legislation. I will come back to the Deputy on that. It will not be coming in the very near future but it is something I am committed to doing. It will also require updated technical systems to support the revised approach.
When I was down in Tipperary with the vetting bureau, I raised the issue of the wet signature for vetting. Currently, the bureau does not accept digital signatures as their use presents security and integrity risks within the vetting process. I was told these include potential disputes over identity, intent and the possibility of document tampering. Garda authorities have also highlighted vulnerabilities associated with digital signatures, including identity theft and social engineering attacks, which could significantly increase the risk of impersonation. For these reasons, a wet signature is currently required to provide valid consent to the vetting process. While initial engagement can take place online, a face-to-face element remains necessary to verify identity and obtain handwritten consent.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19