Minister Jim O’Callaghan commends extraordinary impact of national DNA Database on 10-year anniversary

• National DNA database assisted in nearly 1,000 criminal cases and generated 812 matches in 2025.
• Assisted in 180 body identifications and 29 missing persons cases in 2025
• Over 94,000 profiles on the database, aiding investigations from burglaries to high-value drug seizures.

26 February 2026

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan today celebrated 10 years since the creation of Ireland’s national DNA database at an event to mark the anniversary at Forensic Science Ireland HQ.

The database is used as an intelligence source for criminal investigations, to help find missing people and to help identify unknown people. Since its establishment in 2015, the system has aided nearly 8,000 criminal investigations, primarily cases relating to burglaries, criminal damage, and robberies. It has also assisted in the investigation of more serious crimes including murders, sexual and violent offences and assaults.

The database now has over 94,000 profiles and the crime solving capacity of the database will continue to grow as the database itself grows.

Minister O’Callaghan said:

“It is difficult to imagine a criminal justice system today without the national DNA Database. Ten years on since its establishment, we can confidently say that it has had a transformative effect. It has reshaped how crimes are investigated; how cases are built, and how justice is delivered. To an ever-increasing extent, the success of our criminal justice system is dependent on the effectiveness and integrity of the DNA Database System. Today is not just about recognising the impact of the DNA database, it is also about recognising what has been achieved through forensic science and the support that it has given to the criminal justice system and victims of crime.

“One of the most powerful aspects of the DNA Database is its role in missing persons investigations and body identification cases. In 2025, the forensic laboratory assisted in approximately 180 body identifications and 29 missing persons cases.”

International cooperation remains a key priority. Ireland currently shares DNA profiles with 20 European countries, including The United Kingdom, under the Prüm Treaty. FSI began live data exchange in 2019 and now actively collaborates with those countries, ensuring criminals cannot evade justice by crossing borders.

Minister O’Callaghan continued:

“The national DNA database is not only a national asset but also benefits a much wider international network through the exchanges of forensic data across EU Members States.

“The government will continue to support the key role played by forensic science in the criminal justice system. We now have a truly world class forensic science laboratory in Backweston, built to the highest international standards, to reflect the importance of the essential scientific analysis and expert advice provided by FSI.”

ENDS…///

Notes to editor

The DNA Database was established under the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014. The Act states that certain DNA samples can be taken to be added to the DNA database. Forensic Science Ireland manage the DNA database.

The database is used:

• As an intelligence source for criminal investigations
• To help find missing people
• To help identify unknown people

The database has an investigation section and an identification section. The investigation section is used to investigate suspected crimes and the identification section is used to help identify unknown and missing people.

An independent DNA Database Oversight Committee, chaired by Judge Catherine Murphy, oversees policies and practices to maintain system integrity. The Committee was established by the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014. They oversee the management and operation of the DNA Database System for the purposes of maintaining the integrity and security of the System.

The 2014 Act provides for increased co-operation with other EU member states in relation to information on DNA databases. This means that one EU member state can ask another EU member state to perform a DNA database search on their system to see if they have a match for a particular sample.

In 2019, FSI began live exchange of DNA data and at the end of 2024 was exchanging data with twenty European Countries.

FSI relocated to a €100 million state-of-the-art laboratory at Backweston, Celbridge April 2024.