Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I thank Senator McDowell for raising the issue. My reading of section 8 is that it applies to, obviously, any place where a garda is in a public place or a place where a member of the force is lawfully present. Nonetheless, I will give consideration to what he said and see whether or not it needs to be tightened up. At present, it states;
A member who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person—
(a) has committed, or is committing, an offence, or
(b) is in possession of a relevant article,
may require the person to provide his or her name, address and date of birth ...
My reading of that is that it is in a public place or, alternatively, in a place where a garda is lawfully present. The point that Senator McDowell raises is why the alternative locations identified in section 9 and, indeed, section 10 are not included in section 8. I will give it consideration, but my reading of it is that it applies to a public place or any place where a garda is lawfully present.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:02+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-10