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
- Minister for Defence Primary
- First StageDáil
- Second StageDáil
- Committee StageDáil
- Report StageDáil
- Fifth StageDáil
- Second StageSeanad
- Committee StageSeanad
- Report StageSeanad
- Fifth StageSeanad Enacted
- EnactedEnacted
- 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