The Taoiseach will be aware that the Garda and private security organisations have been calling for the introduction of body cameras to improve safety and transparency.

The general data protection regulation and other data protection rules, regulations and related guidelines limit or prohibit the use of body cameras. There was some revised guidance from the data protection officer recently. However, uncertainties remain and primary legislation is required. Will the Taoiseach advise as to when he expects Second Stage of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 to be taken? Will he ask the Minister for Justice to examine extending the use of body cameras to private security staff?

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill was published in August. The Government asked the Minister for Justice for more information on the potential inclusion of facial recognition technology, FRT, by means of amendments on Committee Stage. A report has been prepared for the Cabinet and will be published in the near future. The proposal to provide for An Garda Síochána's use of FRT is in line with the proposals contained in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which recommended the digital transformation of the Irish police service to enhance front-line policing capability. It is hoped that the report will be published shortly and that it will shed some light on this and get matters moving.