Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Catherine Ardagh (FF), Dublin South-Central

Obviously there are serious consequences. Regarding subsection (c), the proposed requirement for a mandatory non-compliance warning is unnecessary because under section 12, the legal requirement for a notice is satisfied. When the Garda states the precise statute power authorising the search, this establishes its compulsory nature. Mandating an additional explicit warning regarding criminal prosecution serves no practical legal purpose. Instead it risks unnecessarily complicating a standard procedure that is already set out.
Regarding subsection (d), a roadside stop and search is intended as a brief, temporary and preventative check. In contrast, the right to a formal interpretation service is a custody safeguard, which we know works. We have translators for that. It is designed for formal detention, police interrogation and court proceedings. That is well funded by An Garda Síochána. Transplanting this into fast-paced street environments is logistically impractical. Waiting for a certified interpreter risks stretching brief stops into prolonged periods of involuntary street detention. The Bill already addresses communication barriers where a severe language barrier frustrates a street search. Section 11 permits a Garda member to transfer the interaction to a custody facility where established interpretation infrastructure ensures search integrity and individual rights.
I understand the point made by Senator Ruane regarding the extra charges and how when somebody has an extra charge, it stays on his or her record forever. In particular with youth offenders, it seems quite unfair and it is something I would like to look at in my role in the youth diversion space where we could get input from the Senator regarding her work with the Irish Penal Reform Trust.

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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