UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Actor: Simon Harris
insufficient_evidenceTopic: housing
Office: Taoiseach
Evidence: 6 events
Sources: 6
This promise by Simon Harris has INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE for a rating. Only 6 evidence events were found. More research is needed before a reliable assessment can be made.
This promise is SPECIFIC (vagueness score: 20/100). It includes measurable targets or deadlines that make it trackable. Specific promises are easier to verify as kept or broken.
Issue category: housing
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) called for stronger safeguards in the Garda facial recognition technology legislation to ensure it protects fundamental rights.
An Oireachtas Library & Research Service briefing paper was published on the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill, discussing FRT in the context of policing reform and government policy.
Minister Jim O'Callaghan secured government approval to publish the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025, enabling An Garda Síochána to use biometric recognition technologies including retrospective facial recognition for investigating serious criminal offences.
The Law Society Gazette reports that the Government has backed the Bill on biometric technology, which would allow the use of biometric technologies as a tool to process evidence in serious criminal investigations.
Minister O'Callaghan stated the Bill will not provide for real-time facial recognition technology use, but the Government has not ruled out its future use. The Bill covers retrospective facial recognition only.
Further Dáil debate on the Bill took place on 3 March 2026, with amendments discussed that would require Gardaí to obtain written authorisation from a Chief Superintendent or higher before using biometric analysis. The Bill has not yet been enacted into law.
Deliver 303,000 homes by 2030, with 133,000 social, affordable and cost-rental properties