DNA samples to be taken from all serious offenders

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has announced that people who have been in jail in the past for serious offences will be sampled for the new DNA database.

Minister Ahern was outlining the new forensic evidence legislation in the Dáil.

Under the plans all those in jails around the country will be sampled.

And Minister Ahern also said those who have served time in the past for serious offences, or who have been subject to the sexual offenders' registration requirements, will also be required to provide a sample.

"I am very conscious of concerns around the risks posed by mobile former offenders, and I believe giving the Gardaí power to require such persons to provide samples for the database will go some way towards alleviating these concerns," Minister Ahern said.