Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Joe Conway (IND), Cultural and Educational Panel

Senator Ruane said she was becoming confused at this stage. I think it may be down to the lateness of the night. I am fairly confused myself at this stage because I am not too sure whether we are talking about targeting and recording ethnicity or religion. Then the census was raised as a bit of a hare. That was really peculiar because I think relying on the census for information would put the Garda into a very invidious position, down to the fact of how things are recorded on the census. A nephew of mine caused an absolute barney with a census enumerator when he insisted on recording his religion as Jedi. It reminded me of the political scene in the UK about 30 or 40 years ago, when we routinely had a chap called Screaming Lord Sutch contesting every by-election that came up under the guise of his party, which was known then as the Monster Raving Loony Party. I can see that Senator Robbie Gallagher enjoyed that one. The census thing just seems to be a complete hare, as far I am concerned, because I do not think it is applicable or workable for the Garda. We are talking fundamentally about Garda powers. We are supposed to be making the job of gardaí easier or more effective or more efficient as a policing force. Do I remember correctly that when the PPS cards were coming in about 20 years ago there was a frightful controversy about whether people would be putting social welfare records on them? Does anybody remember that? I seem to remember it anyway. Senator McDowell mentioned the GDPR provisions of that. We are into a bit of a farrago here, and it is certainly not alleviating my confusion. I am more confused. The Minister of State might be able to elucidate.

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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