820. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of garda interviews of persons in custody that have taken place in Garda stations since 1 July 2026 without the accused having consultation or representation by defence solicitors. [64128/26]

902. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda interviews conducted in respect of criminal investigations without a solicitor present; and the number of such interviews where a solicitor had been requested by the detained person but was not available to attend, by month in 2025 and by month to date in 2026, in tabular form. [65057/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 820 and 902 together.

I have been advised by An Garda Síochána that information on whether individuals were interviewed with or without legal representation is not recorded on a centralised system. I am also advised that, while requests for legal representation are recorded in hard-copy custody records maintained at individual Garda stations, the attendance of solicitors at interviews is not recorded.

As such it is not possible to accurately establish the information sought as to do so would require a manual check of records that would require a disproportionate use of time and resources to compile.

I am advised by Garda authorities that during the investigative process, every individual is afforded the opportunity to avail of legal representation. While it is a matter for each individual to decide whether they wish to avail of legal representation every effort is made to assist an individual who requests representation, and every individual is entitled to representation.