I welcome this Bill. I think the old system of fingerprinting has gone out of date. We are living in modern times with modern technology and this is very important. We know also that criminals are very sophisticated in their way of committing crime so we must be very sophisticated in the manner of detecting crime. The Bill will bring in genetic fingerprinting. It will be a much simpler system and much more positive than the old system.
There are many safeguards for the suspect. No longer can a suspect be brought in and have his hand pushed down on a pad as in the old method of fingerprinting. He had to have his fingerprints taken regardless of whether he wanted to or not. In this particular case, he cannot be brought in or harassed by the Garda because they must have the authority of a superintendent. In practice, the superintendent has to put it in writing and there is no way the suspect can be harassed or badgered by the garda forcing him into this test.
Equally, it is important when people are innocent that there is a scentific way to ensure that they can be either brought before the courts or released. Everybody should welcome that because often when crime is not detected, everybody in the locality is a suspect until the criminal is brought to justice.
