New Garda powers given guarded welcome

The Chairman of Digital Rights Ireland TJ McIntyre is giving a guarded welcome to legislation which will give Gardaí the power to take DNA samples from suspects.

Under legislation being published early in the new year samples can be taken from suspects in cases where the crime carries a jail term of five years or more.

DNA profiles will then be stored in a new database.

Mr McIntyre said although it's welcome, "there are some problems with the legislation".