Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2009
114 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when arrangements will be made to instruct members of the Garda Siochána 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. [40150/09]
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 considering proposals for a new system which would allow 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 could 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 would initially be introduced on a pilot basis to allow all the operational and legal aspects to be fully tested and evaluated.
