The Minister for Justice has said that he wants to maximise the use of DNA in police activities.
Michael McDowell was speaking after the Law Reform Commission today recommended a limited DNA database be established for the investigation of serious crime.
Mr McDowell said he did not want to react before reading the commission's report.
However, he said that he did not believe there would be privacy issues involved in preserving a DNA databank if proper controls were in put in place.
Mr McDowell said he would legislate for the establishment of such a database at the earliest opportunity.
DNA evidence generated from blood, saliva or hair samples has been used in Ireland in a large number of criminal investigations to link, or exclude, arrested people from particular crimes.
A database would, however, enable a person not previously suspected to be tied to, or ruled out of, previously unsolved offences.
It can identify links between crimes by matching the same profile from different crime scenes and rapidly exclude large numbers of suspects.
The commission has recommended that the database be set up under the control of an independent forensic science agency, subject to external oversight and strong security measures.
It says it should contain genetic profiles of people suspected or convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, drugs offences and offences against the State, but not of those sentenced to less than five years in prison.
The LRC also says the DNA of those convicted should remain on the database indefinitely, but profiles of suspects in investigations, or those acquitted in court, should only be held temporarily before being removed and destroyed.
The Attorney General, Rory Brady SC, has meanwhile questioned whether or not limits should be imposed on the retention of DNA samples and profiles.
Launching the report this evening, Mr Brady questioned whether, once the improper use of the DNA sample is precluded, there is any real justification for limits on the categories and duration of the preservation of the samples.
The matter he said would ultimately be decided by the Oireachtas and the Justice Minister.
