Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Cathal Byrne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel

I wish to raise a query in relation to subsection (3), which provides that "The person or driver who is the subject of a search referred to in subsection (1) may, at any time, make a request in writing to a superintendent of An Garda Síochána in the Garda Síochána district in which the search was carried out for a copy of the record." In circumstances where that person's agent, representative or solicitor acting on their behalf makes that request, I assume that would be permitted. While the section does not refer to agents, representatives or solicitors, I assume that somebody acting on their behalf would be permitted to request that record. I note that when we are discussing searches, some of the searches that take place involve members of An Garda Síochána placing themselves in harm's way. In my own hometown of Enniscorthy this morning, a search was carried out of a vehicle, which involved that vehicle ramming the Garda car. That is going go before the courts. It is important to remember that when are discussing searches that it is the gardaí on the front lines who are carrying these out and they are at risk. When incidents like what we saw this morning in my hometown take place, there is always a risk to the members of An Garda Síochána.
On the amendments, the one question I have about the amendments is what will happen if you ask somebody their religion as part of the search and he or she responds that he or she is not answering that question? Will it just be written down that they did not answer? I am just working through it. It says in amendment No. 26 b that we want to record their nationality, gender, place of birth, occupation and religion. If somebody says he or she is not telling us what religion he or she is, what would be the answer?

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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