Minister backs 'naked' body scanners at airports

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern today backed the introduction of ’naked’ body scanners in Irish airports to expose hidden weapons or explosives.

Dublin Airport Authority has put out a €2m tender for the controversial technology which is already being trialled in Britain.

The x-ray machines produce “naked” images of passengers which show up breast enlargements, false limbs, piercings, and a clear outline of passengers’ private parts.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey also revealed he was not opposed to the roll-out of the full-body scanners at Dublin, Cork and Shannon, once he gets the green light.

European ministers are currently debating whether to sanction the use of the machines, which cost around €90,000 each, as part of an EU-wide security crackdown, with both France and Britain pressing for their introduction.

At a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of Ministers in Toledo, Spain, Mr Ahern said he was also in favour of the body scanners.

“If you’re a law abiding citizen you don’t have anything to fear from any technology like body scanners, these are just new methods of detecting things,” said Mr Ahern’s spokesman, outside the meeting.

“As far as the Justice Minister is concerned, there are no issues about introducing these body scanners and other technologies.

“If it means people can travel safely they should be introduced.”

Minister Dempsey’s spokesman said the use of body scanners was not approved yet by the EU but talks were continuing about their introduction.

“The minister is not opposed to the use of this technology once the appropriate safeguards are in place,” he added.

In Manchester Airport, where one of the scanners is being trialled, passengers no longer have to remove their coats, shoes and belts as they go through security checks.

The airport insists the black and white images are not pornographic or erotic and are destroyed once viewed by a single officer at a remote location.

Electromagnetic waves are beamed onto passengers while they stand in a booth, and a virtual three-dimensional “naked” image is created from the reflected energy.

Security officials in the United States have pioneered their use at New York and Los Angeles airports, and they are gradually being rolled out in other airports in the country.

A Dublin Airport Authority spokesman said the Department of Transport was taking the lead on the issue, and its tender was in preparation for any policy changes.

“The Department of Transport sets aviation security policies on all Irish airports,” he said.

“We implement them.”