Minister to press ahead with DNA database
JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan is pressing ahead with plans to set up a national DNA database, despite concerns it is a threat to human rights.
Mr Lenihan is going to examine the views of the official human rights watchdog as he finalises his plans for the database.
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) says the proposal is an unacceptable invasion of the right to privacy. It says the Government's proposals fall short of European and international standards and need further safeguards to avoid potential miscarriages of justice.
Genetic identities of hundreds of thousands of people will be stored indefinitely on the database.
IHRC acting chief executive Des Hogan said he wanted a major public debate over the scheme ahead of any legislation.
"The proposal to indefinitely retain samples is an unacceptable invasion of the right to privacy," he said.
The commission wants the DNA samples of people who have not been convicted of a criminal offence to be destroyed "as soon as possible after the conclusion of legal proceedings".
The Government's proposals would also allow for voluntary mass screenings of population centres such as villages or neighbourhoods at the centre of rape or murder inquiries.
In Britain, a DNA database was set up 12 years ago, originally only keeping samples of convicted criminals but which has now been extended to retain samples of everyone who comes into contact with police for arrestable offences.
There are 3.5 million samples on that database, around half a million of them children who could remain on the register indefinitely, according to the IHRC. The planned database is provided for in the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill expected to be published later this year.
The Department of Justice insisted it would take note of the IHRC's concerns.
"The department is consulting widely in developing its legislative proposals in advance of publication of a draft Bill by the end of the year," a spokesperson said.
FIONNAN SHEAHAN
and BRIAN HUTTON
