Committee recommends extra Garda facilities
A new report has recommended that extra rooms in certain Garda stations should be fitted out for recording interviews.
The third report of the Steering Committee on Audio/Video recording of Garda interviews of detainees says almost all such interviews are now taped, either with video or audio equipment.
Between January and November 2003 a total of 16,126 interviews were conducted.
But the report says that the Gardaí must endeavour to ensure that all interviews with persons detained under the relevant regulations are recorded.
Therefore, extra interview rooms must be provided where necessary and existing recording rooms should be reviewed to ensure that the equipment is of a sufficient standard.
Any objection by a detained person to having an interview recorded should also, where possible, be recorded, according to the report.
It also claims that changes are necessary in the regulations governing the recording of interviews in Garda custody and the production and playing of such tapes in court.
The Steering Committee has already begun work on proposals for changes to these regulations and these will be submitted to the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, when they are completed.
