Madam, - It is little wonder that Rockne Harmon, in his address last Saturday at the genetics symposium organised by Trinity College, expressed surprise that we do not yet have a DNA database to assist An Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime.
For over 10 years, a succession of Ministers for Justice have promised to publish the legislation required to establish such a database and the promise was repeated in each of the legislative programmes published by the Government before the start of each Dail session. Moreover, your paper has repeatedly given prominence to Ministers' announcements of their commitment to publish a DNA database Bill. Sadly, the Ministers concerned, having captured the media spotlight, failed to deliver on the commitment given.
Depriving gardaí of access to an accurate DNA record of former offenders is the equivalent of requiring them to investigate crime - especially homicides and sexual crimes - with their hands tied behind their backs.
Talk by government ministers of "zero tolerance", or of a commitment to law and order, or of providing the Garda with the resources it requires has no credibility in the context of this continuing abject failure.
In the last century, no police force could credibly undertake its work without the resource of fingerprinting. In this century no police force can properly undertake its work without not only genetic fingerprinting but also a DNA database of convicted criminals. The Government's failure to publish and bring before the Dáil the required legislation is indefensible. - Yours, etc,
ALAN SHATTER TD, Dáil Eireann, Dublin 2.