asked the Minister for External Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a reported statement of a police inspector in a London court, that, since a recent murder, there was an order that all Irishmen's fingerprints were to be taken, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irishmen's Fingerprints: London Court Statement.
I have seen the statement to which the Deputy refers. According to my information, under a recent British police instruction, Irishmen taken into police custody are requested to permit their fingerprints to be taken. I understand that the purpose of this instruction is to assist a specific criminal investigation. The instruction applies only to persons in police custody and, in the absence of a court order, their fingerprints may be taken only with their consent.
Does the same thing apply in this country in the case of an Englishman arrested here?
As far as I understand, the regulations here permit the police to take fingerprints also.
Not only of English-men, but of Irishmen too.
Does the same thing apply here as in Britain?
If the circumstances arose it possibly might apply if the police thought it the right thing to do to help their investigations.
In case such may not have happened, is the Minister satisfied that the unfortunate countless Irish people who are in England, irrespective of what Government may be in power at the time, have to be marked off just because they are Irish and because there may be some insinuation about their being criminals?
As I understand it, no person arrested in England will have his fingerprints taken unless he consents or a court order has been obtained in order to force him to submit to having his fingerprints taken.
Is it not a fact that here in Ireland the police have authority forcibly to take the fingerprints of those who are not actually convicted and that that power has been exercised within only the last ten days by the Garda Síochána?
It is not in my Department but I understand that, only last year, extended powers to take fingerprints were granted to the police under an Order.