DNA database bill poses rights concerns

GREATER human rights protections are needed in the Government’s legislation to establish a DNA database for use by gardaí, an Oireachtas Committee has heard.

The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) expressed concern that sections of a draft Criminal Justice Bill, to establish the DNA database for use in criminal investigations, do not contain sufficient safeguards to protect individuals’ human rights.

Elements of the legislation were also criticised by the Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice.