Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
519. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her Department's policy on automatic number plate recognition technology; if she intends to legislate if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54495/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a highly valuable policing and intelligence tool, which can lead to efficiencies in the detection of criminal offences and assist in identifying perpetrators in serious crime investigations.
All Roads Policing vehicles issued since end of 2022 include the latest available technology in ANPR and interconnection with Garda mobility, and is specific to Roads Policing requirements. It is expected that a further 10 bespoke Roads Policing marked vehicles will be issued nationally by the end of Q4 2023.
The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law by the President on the 5 December 2023, makes provision for Garda use of modern digital technology providing for the expanded use of ANPR. The Act provides that Gardaí can use ANPR to prevent, detect, investigate or prosecute, criminal offences which include road traffic offences.
The legislation will also allow Gardaí access to ANPR data gathered by other bodies, thereby assisting Gardaí in crime investigation. It provides for the automatic transfer of ANPR records from designated third parties, subject to a data sharing agreement, on an ongoing basis and provides An Garda Síochána with the power to process those records. Initially, this will be the Dublin Port Company, the National Roads Authority and Dublin Airport Authority PLC, all bodies with extensive ANPR camera networks already in place.
A Code of Practice relating to the operation of ANPR will also be prepared by the Garda Commissioner. In accordance with Part 8 of the Act, the Code of Practice will set out the procedures to be used and the requirements relating to confidentiality, security, storage, access, retention, erasure and destruction of data. Part 8 also establishes the requirements for consultation on the Code of Practice which, when finalised, will be submitted to the Minister for Justice and published in a Statutory Instrument.
The operation of the provisions relating to ANPR in the Recording Devices Act will also be overseen by a High Court Judge, who will report to the Taoiseach annually.
