Government plans to update facial recognition technology laws

Following last week’s riot, facial recognition technology has been floated as a potential addition to the powers of Ireland’s law enforcement.

It is understood that Government is planning to introduce legislation within weeks that would allow laws surrounding the technology to be updated and subsequently used by Gardaí.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has briefed colleagues that she plans to introduce the legislation in the coming weeks, as her performance as Minister for Justice has been called into question by members of the opposition and the public.

The planned move has drawn a mixed reaction.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell said “ominous events on both sides of the Liffey on Thursday night means facial recognition technology is now also back on the table as part of future policing solutions to ensure public safety.”

“With all necessary and robust safeguards, we must prioritise and implement facial recognition technology as part of An Garda Siochána’s future policing plans. I will be working with all my colleagues to achieve this.”

“There can be no further delays or avoidance of the issue. Our capital city can never witness the events we saw on Thursday night and our officers need every support and tool possible. This includes facial recognition technology and I make no apology for it. Let’s get it into legislation and implement it,” Farrell said.

Farrell claimed that Fine Gael, who have held the Justice ministry since 2011, will be “relentless in our efforts to restore the confidence of people to feel safe in our cities and towns.”

“There can be no accommodation of violence, intimidation or fear in our society. Regardless of background, a message will be sent that if you break the law, this Government and An Garda Siochana will ensure you face the consequences.”

Members of the Green Party such as Patrick Costello and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties are strongly opposed to the introduction of facial recognition technology.

The ICCL said it is “strongly opposed” to the technology being used by law enforcement, and said that An Garda Síochána has a “poor record on data protection”.

A spokesperson for the Green Party told The Journal that the party has “always supported giving Gardaí access to cutting-edge technology in order to fight crime as long as the proper safeguards are in place”.

They said the Greens gave its backing to the original bill to give Gardaí access to bodycams and also agreed to a separate, stand-alone bill that would allow for the retrospective use of Facial Recognition Technology in serious cases, on the condition it was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny.

“We await the full details of the extra categories of offences that Minister McEntee proposes to allow facial recognition technology used to help investigate,” they added.

Labour justice spokesperson Aodhan O Riordain said Fine Gael are attempting to “deflect” from the issue by proposing superfluous legislation.

“Ramming legislation through the Dáil without proper debate is not the solution to what we witnessed on Thursday evening. There has been a building series of missteps in justice, and there are serious questions now for the Justice Minister, Fine Gael and the whole of Government.”

Labour attempted to force a Dáil sitting on Monday to discuss the events of last week, but the request was rejected.

Ó’Ríordáin quipped that the Dáil not being recalled is a testament to “Fine Gael’s desire to govern by press release.”

“Fine Gael have acted as bystanders when it comes to justice for too long. After 12 years in control of the brief, the buck should stop with the Taoiseach and his cabinet colleagues,” he said.