Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10
============================================================

Michael McDowell (IND), National University of Ireland

I sympathise with the first paragraph concerning the consequences of failing to comply with a search because when one looks at section 15, if somebody obstructs a search, it is important that he or she should know that under section 15, he or she is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €30,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years year or both. These are serious consequences for acting the maggot on a street and resisting a search under whatever misapprehension be it assisted by alcohol or whatever else. What Senator Ruane is suggesting is that the consequences of not complying should be explained to people as they are in many other circumstances, for instance, for drunk driving.
I do not agree with her amendment with regard to the right to an interpreter. Gardaí cannot go up or down Camden Street equipped with interpreters to deal with everybody they might meet and want to search. I would ask the Minister of State to consider between now and Report Stage accepting an amendment along the lines of an explanation of the consequences of failing to comply.

---

Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

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