Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
193. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the implementation of Recommendation 1.12 of the Garda Inspectorate report on Transnational Organised Crime 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4685/26]
View answerThe recommendation referred to by the Deputy relates to the introduction of legislation to enable registered Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) to participate in crime. This matter has not been included as a priority in the significant programme of legislative reform already underway in my Department.
I can confirm to the Deputy that there are detailed guidelines governing the procedures and processes relating to the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) by An Garda Síochána, and these are set out in a comprehensive Code of Practice.
The operation of the CHIS system is subject to internal oversight by senior Garda management and to independent external oversight, exercised since 2010 by a former judge as the Independent Oversight Authority for CHIS.
I have no plans to make any changes to the system at present.
