Government Approves Bill Allowing Gardaí to Use Facial Recognition Technology

An Garda Síochána will soon have the ability to use biometric recognition technology, including facial recognition, to assist in investigating serious criminal offences, state security matters, and missing persons cases following cabinet approval today.

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan has received approval to publish the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025, which will allow Gardaí to use automated biometric analysis to process evidence more efficiently.

The technology will enable Gardaí to sort, filter and compare images from collections such as CCTV footage, rather than spending months manually reviewing material. The Bill provides for retrospective searching of images already in Garda possession.

Currently, Garda investigations can involve teams spending months trawling through CCTV footage or recordings captured on phones. The new technology is expected to save thousands of work hours while improving the ability to analyse evidence in a timely manner.

The technology will also support Garda wellbeing by reducing the need for manual processing of distressing material in cases involving child sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan said:

"I am committed to building stronger, safer communities by strengthening An Garda Síochána, expanding resources, and modernising support to tackle crime. Providing Gardaí with the technologies needed to deliver an effective policing service is central to that commitment.

We know time is of the essence when Gardaí are attempting to identify a perpetrator suspected of involvement in a serious crime or when tracking the movements of a missing person. Therefore it is critical that we remove the need to manually trawl through thousands of hours of footage, allowing them to pursue investigations more quickly which will hopefully lead to successful outcomes."

The biometric analysis will not seek to identify a person automatically, but rather to find instances of an individual across relevant images or footage where necessary and proportionate. There will be no automated decision-making, with all results requiring human intervention by trained Garda members.

The Bill includes strict safeguards, including a Code of Practice that will outline specific data protection and human rights controls. The Code will be drafted by An Garda Síochána in consultation with stakeholders, then submitted to the Minister who will lay it before the Oireachtas for approval.

A High Court Judge will monitor the ongoing use of biometric analysis, with power to access and inspect any official documents or records. The Judge will furnish an annual report to the Taoiseach.

Minister O'Callaghan also received approval to draft heads of a General Scheme to provide for retrospective and live biometric identification. This would involve automated comparison of facial images against databases of known individuals.

Biometric technologies are currently being utilised by multiple police services across the EU, with several other Member States considering their use.