I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising this matter. He said he has raised it on numerous occasions in this House. He outlined the huge success rate of CCTV in Moyross and Limerick. CCTV across the country makes us feel more secure in the community and in our own homes. Community safety is a top priority for me, with delegated responsibility for youth justice, and for my Department. Everyone has the right to feel safe and free in their communities. Community CCTV plays a huge role in achieving this. CCTV in public place…

I represent a similar constituency with significant intergenerational disadvantage and intergenerational trauma. We do not have widespread CCTV in Dublin South-Central but I can absolutely see the benefit of it. The Deputy makes a compelling case for ensuring this deadlock in relation to funding is overcome. I will be certain to pass on his requests to the Department. The Government is progressing nationally a new framework for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes through Part 5 of the Garda Síochána (Re…

I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion today. I thank the Before We Die campaign for leading this initiative. I am grateful to Lorraine Doyle, from Dublin South-Central, for having spoken to me. I met her in relation to the campaign. From my own experience, I know just how much energy it takes to advocate for someone you love. Believe me when I say that as a public representative it is much easier to advocate for people who you are not related to or do not have a vested interest in. I know th…

I take this opportunity to thank everyone here and acknowledge the constructive spirit in which Members have engaged with this Bill since 2022. There is a shared recognition across the Houses that this legislation will make a meaningful difference in people's lives, as described by Senator Nelson Murray. Today marks a significant step forward for cancer survivors in Ireland. This legislation will give people who have overcome cancer fair access to mortgage protection without being penalised for their medical past. …

This is a minor technical amendment to change paragraph (c) of the definition of the "biometric analysis" in section 43A to add the word "including". The definition of biometric analysis is intended to afford An Garda Síochána the ability to utilise automated recognition and categorisation of physical, physiological or behavioural human features of known and unknown persons for the purposes listed in the Bill. An added functionality of paragraph (c) is its use in locating a missing person. The addition of the word …

I thank Deputy Carthy for his support for this legislation. I also note the other issues he raised in relation to wider criminal justice and Garda issues. However, I will go back to discussing Deputy Kelly's amendment, tabled by Deputy Sheehan. The amendment made in the Seanad to section 43C(2) is to allow, where necessary and appropriate, An Garda Síochána, in the context of international co-operation, to utilise biometric analysis, subject to a code of practice. The code of practice must be laid before both House…

Live FRT will be dealt with in separate legislation. I believe we have sufficient guardrails in place in this legislation. The amendments from the Seanad pull international co-operation into the purposes for which biometric analysis may be utilised. This means that where gardaí wish to utilise biometric analysis in the context of international co-operation, the safeguards in the Bill will apply, including the use of tests that are necessary and proportionate, and that there must be human oversight. A written list o…

I thank the Senator very much for her kind words. I also thank her for volunteering Limerick for the trial. The Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of prison overcrowding by increasing prison capacity and pursuing further measures to support increasing the use of non-custodial sanctions like the Senator mentioned. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is leading a cross-agency project to introduce electronic monitoring of specific categories of individu…

I thank Deputy Ryan. She makes a great case for the pilot. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is committed to implementing electronic monitoring in line with the commitments set out in the programme for Government. The electronic monitoring project is progressing and is expected to be operational this year. We are quite far down the road with it. The Minister is also committed to progressing other commitments in the programme for Government relating to the expanded use of community sanctions that will contribute to …

I regret that I cannot accept the Senator's amendment. The e-evidence package provides for co-operation between member states of the European Union. It does not allow one member state to unilaterally suspend its operation. The amendment would be in clear breach of our legal obligations under EU law. On a point of principle, giving a member of the Executive the power to interfere with the exercise of judicial functions by a judicial authority within the European Union would be a breach of the democratic principles o…

Obviously, our Department is aware that the SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy. Regretfully, I cannot accept any of these amendments. With regard to amendment No. 2, the legal obligations on service providers, including small-to-medium-sized enterprises, are determined by the regulation and directive and it is not open to the director to alter them. Furthermore, even if it were possible for Ireland to exclude SMEs from the scope of the e-evidence package, to do so would create a gap that could easily be exp…

Regretfully, I cannot accept these amendments. Section 20 requires the publication of an annual report, which shall include such information as the director considers appropriate or as the director may direct. The section deliberately did not prescribe in detail exactly what statistical data should be included. We are setting up a new entity, and until we have some experience of how it operates, it would be premature to determine what statistical information is most relevant and available. I believe we should maint…

I thank the Senators for this amendment and commend them for raising what is a very significant topic of concern and one that has been debated recently in this House at length. I understand exactly why this issue matters so much to survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. For many survivors, counselling is a crucial and essential part of recovery. Counselling notes record some of the most private and painful information that a person will ever share, often at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. H…

There is obviously a presumption of non-disclosure, so unless it is relevant, it would not be disclosed. That is my understanding.

When it comes to regular legal privilege, such as between a solicitor and client, one would get the material only if it were absolutely relevant. If it were not relevant, it would not be disclosed. It would not be admissible.

I thank colleagues for their engagement today and for the Bill's progression through the Houses.

I thank the Senator for his kind remarks at the outset. I thank him for raising the issue today. Firearms are now one of my delegated responsibilities. While the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is the competent authority for the importation and exportation of firearms and the licensing of firearms dealers, An Garda Síochána, as the Senator knows, has a range of functions with regard to the operation of firearms legislation, including the issuing of firearm certificates and authorisations, and is t…

I am listening and the Senator’s point is very well made. Officials from my Department intend to continue with the ongoing stakeholder engagement meetings and the proactive and open engagement that has taken place. I will pass on the point the Senator has made. The objective of the meetings is to provide a mechanism for ongoing engagement with firearms stakeholders across a broad range of areas within the firearms community, ensuring their valuable insights in specific areas of firearms can be considered in any fut…

Yes. Various stakeholders have expressed their appreciation and satisfaction as to how the series of meetings have progressed thus far. I am informed that they thanked the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for its willingness to initiate a programme for change and look forward to working positively with the Department in the future.

I thank the Deputy for her question. The students, prospective students and teachers are in a very difficult situation. What is really important now is that we have a clear information stream going to the students so they know what is going on. The Department is aware of the current issues regarding Student Campus college in Limerick. Officials in my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are monitoring the ongoing and evolving situation. They will provide in…