Question on An Garda Síochána access to drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering

QUESTION NO: 144

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)
by Deputy Thomas Pringle
for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 25th September, 2013.
* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has access to drones for surveillance and intelligence gathering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas Pringle
REPLY.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate and would be contrary to public interest for me to comment on matters related to security or intelligence.

However, the Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the carrying out of surveillance by An Garda Síochána.

The Act is subject to judicial oversight. The Act provides for a designated High Court Judge to keep under review the operation of the provisions of the Act relating to authorisations to carry out surveillance and the use of tracking devices by An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners. The designated judge is required to report to the Taoiseach at intervals of not more than 12 months and the relevant report to An Taoiseach is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

In addition, the Act provides for a procedure whereby a member of the public who believes that they may be the subject of an authorisation or an approval may make a complaint to a “Complaints Referee”. The current Complaints Referee is a judge of the Circuit Court.

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