DNA database assisted in 1,000 criminal cases during 2024

There were 61,354 DNA profiles on the Reference Index, an increase of 10.69% since 2023.

The number of crimes investigated using the DNA database increased by nearly 40% last year, Cabinet will hear on Wednesday.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan will brief ministers on the 2024 annual report of the DNA database system oversight committee. It is expected the Fianna Fáil minister will say that there is an “increasing use of DNA in Irish criminal justice cases”. Forensic Science Ireland is exchanging data with 16 countries.

Mr O’Callaghan will say that the database assisted in 1,000 investigations last year, up 40% on 2023. There were 83,489 DNA profiles in the system at the end of last year, an increase of 12% on 2023 numbers.

There were 61,354 DNA profiles on the Reference Index, an increase of 10.69% since 2023. Mr O’Callaghan will also tell Cabinet that the purchase of Citywest by the State was completed last week.

Tariffs

With the 15% US tariffs now in effect, Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet that Irish exporters will continue to be negatively impacted by the changed trading environment.

In the first six months of this year, Ireland exported more than in the entire year of 2024 — indicating that significant exports were brought forward to get ahead of the introduction of tariffs.

Imports for the same period remain broadly in line with last year, as such the trade surplus with the US has increased from €22.4bn to €64.4bn for the first half of 2025. Mr Harris will outline his view that Budget 2026 must take measures to help businesses facing uncertainty in the wake of the tariffs. The Tánaiste will also update Cabinet following the decision to dispose of Unifil.

Elsewhere, the national disability strategy will be brought to Cabinet by ministers Norma Foley and Hildegarde Naughton. It will be launched held on Wednesday afternoon. The census in 2022 found that approximately 22% population, 1.11m people, reported living with some form of disability.

Actions in the plan will be focused on five key areas including inclusive learning and education, employment, independent living and active participation in society, wellbeing and health, and transport and mobility. The strategy contains 23 commitments in total, each with several priority actions for delivery in 2025 and 2026.

The minister for sport, Patrick O'Donovan, will seek Cabinet approval for the development of the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin, with an estimated budget of €99.6m over the next three years.