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Enacted Dáil
No. 65 of 2019

Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019

Public bill · Government · Presented

It would give the Military Police clear powers to take DNA and other forensic samples from service members suspected of serious military offences, even when they are serving overseas, and from volunteers, victims, and other people who may have contaminated a scene. It would also create a new DNA database for military policing, run by Forensic Science Ireland, so samples and profiles can be matched to help investigate and prosecute offences under military law. Strong rules are included on consent, use of force, privacy, destruction of samples and profiles, and penalties for obstructing police or mishandling information.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the law to authorise the taking of bodily samples from military persons suspected of certain offences under military law for forensic testing; to provide for the taking of certain bodily samples from military persons or other persons who volunteer to have such samples taken from them for the purpose of the investigation of offences or incidents that may have involved the commission of offences under military law; to provide for the establishment and operation by Forensic Science Ireland of the Department of Justice and Equality of a DNA (Military Police) Database System; to provide for the purposes of that System; to provide for the taking of certain bodily samples from persons suspected of certain offences under military law for the purpose of generating DNA profiles in respect of those persons to be entered in the DNA (Military Police) Database System; to provide for the taking of certain bodily samples from certain persons for elimination purposes and, where appropriate, the entry of their DNA profiles in the DNA (Military Police) Database System; to provide for the taking of bodily samples from military persons, or samples from things, for the purpose of generating DNA profiles to be entered in the DNA (Military Police) Database System; to provide for the collection and analysis of other evidence; to provide, in certain circumstances, for the destruction of evidence and samples taken under this Act and the destruction, or removal from the DNA (Military Police) Database System, of any DNA profiles generated from those samples; to amend the Defence Act 1954, the Courts- Martial Appeals Act 1983 and the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 15 July 2022

Sponsor
  • Minister for Defence Primary
Progress
  • First Stage
    Dáil
  • Second Stage
    Dáil
  • Committee Stage
    Dáil
  • Report Stage
    Dáil
  • Fifth Stage
    Dáil
  • Second Stage
    Seanad
  • Committee Stage
    Seanad
  • Report Stage
    Seanad
  • Fifth Stage
    Seanad Enacted
  • Enacted
    Enacted
Debates
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages
    Seanad
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage
    Seanad
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages
    Dáil
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Committee Stage
    Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed)
    Dáil
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee
    Dáil
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage
    Dáil
  • Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage
    Dáil

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