Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
370. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, database established by the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) 2014 will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36209/15]
View answerThe Regulations necessary to give effect to various aspects of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 are currently being finalised by my officials, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, and I therefore expect to be in a position to launch the DNA Database very shortly.
The DNA Database is an important initiative which will assist the Garda Síochána in the investigation of serious crime and in identifying serial offenders across a broad range of areas, including homicide, rape, sexual and other serious assaults, and burglary. It will play a crucial role in the investigation of so-called “cold cases”. The Database will also assist in exonerating the innocent in cases of miscarriage of justice, and will play an important part in finding and identifying missing or unknown persons. I look forward to this new tool providing crucial assistance to the Gardaí, and indeed members of the public, for decades to come.
