Seanad Commencement Matter
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to extend an invitation to the Latvian Law Enforcement Authorities to this Jurisdiction to be briefed on the missing person case of Ana Varslavane
- Senator James Heffernan
Opening Remarks on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D., by Minister Paul Keohoe
3 December 2015
On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I would like to thank the Senator for raising this matter today.
The Garda authorities have informed the Minister that the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Ana Varslavane remains entirely focussed within this jurisdiction. Should the need arise to engage with the Latvian law enforcement authorities in respect of this investigation, this will be advanced through Europol channels. Under mutual legal assistance provisions, a judicial authority in one state can seek the assistance of the authorities in another state in obtaining evidence required in the course of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings.
The Minister is informed by the Garda authorities that the Missing Persons Bureau has been conducting a full review of its existing policies with a view towards ensuring that An Garda Síochána’s policies and procedures are in line with international best practice and ensuring that missing person’s incidents are afforded the best possible policing response. This review includes a consultation process with our partner agencies concerned with missing persons. This review is ongoing.
The third national Missing Persons Day was hosted by the Minister yesterday, 2 December 2015, at Farmleigh in Dublin. The inaugural Day was held on 4 December 2013, and since then, has been developed into an annual campaign with a number of objectives. It commemorates those who have gone missing and recognises the ongoing suffering for their families and friends. It also serves to raise public awareness of open or unsolved missing persons’ cases, and provides a platform to highlight the support services available to people who have lost a loved one.
Last month, the Minister announced the commencement of DNA legislation and the launch of a new state-of-the-art DNA Database System. The database became operational on 20 November and is based in Forensic Science Ireland in the Phoenix Park.
The new database will assist An Garda Síochána in finding and identifying missing or unknown people. A missing and unknown persons index will hold the DNA profiles developed from biological samples relating to missing persons, for example, from their clothing. It will also hold profiles from their close blood relatives - with their consent - who will have similar DNA.
The DNA legislation also provides for the exchange of DNA profiles of missing or unknown persons with law enforcement authorities in other jurisdictions. The database will, therefore, facilitate searches for missing or unknown persons abroad as well as in Ireland.
ENDS