Garda Equipment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2010

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Ceisteanna (139)

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

146 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the reason a €20 million computerised finger-printing system acquired to detect immigrants illegally claiming social welfare is unused four years after its installation in the Garda Immigration Bureau; the nature of the difficulties that have occurred and the attempts made to-date to resolve them; if the system was intended to be linked to other European Union police forces and the difficulties which have resulted from the linkage not occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47370/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

The Automated Fingerprint Identification System is integrated with the Garda National Immigration Bureau Information System, and 48 units have been installed nationwide to record fingerprints as part of the process of registration of non-Irish nationals. Of these, 6 are currently not in use due to a refusal by CPSU members, who are civilian staff working in the Garda National Immigration Bureau, to operate them. It is most certainly not the case, therefore, that the system is unused. The matter is currently being dealt with within the Industrial Relations framework of An Garda Síochána.

The Garda Síochána continue to exchange information on an operational basis with other police forces on immigration-related matters.