Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2009
92 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when arrangements will be made to instruct members of An Garda Síochána that it is not necessary to take a longhand note of interviews with persons in custody when such interviews are being electronically recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21473/09]
View answerMy Department and the Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Attorney General, are developing proposals for a new system which would allow for the taking of contemporaneous written notes to cease where interviews are electronically recorded. There is a complex range of training, technological, financial and legal issues to be addressed before the changeover to a new system can take place.
The Garda Síochána are at an advanced stage in developing proposals for the operational aspects of a new system. Because of the complexities involved, it is likely that any new system will initially be introduced on a pilot basis to allow for all the operational and legal aspects to be fully tested and evaluated.
