Ireland could share fingerprint data with US

Fingerprints and DNA data belonging to Irish citizens could yet be shared with the US “in specific defined circumstances”, as part a new agreement between EU states and the US.

Speaking at the justice, defence and equality committee, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the planned changes were part of an agreement between the Irish and US governments on enhancing co-operation in crime prevention.

He said the data would only be shared as part of “the prevention, detection and investigation of serious crime”.