Dublin Castle Conference Centre
Thursday, 24 May 2012
09.40 - 10.00
Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,
It is my great pleasure to welcome to Dublin, directors from forensic science institutions from across Europe. I understand the attendance represents Europe in its widest sense and that we have delegates here from countries stretching from Ankara to Oslo and from Madrid to Montenegro.
Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice systems in our world today. Most criminal trials have the benefit of physical evidence of some form. Popular television programs bring this home to the wider public but of course science has featured in crime fiction almost since its inception.
This topic you are discussing today, effectiveness of forensic science, raises important questions for leaders in this field. To address it correctly, it is necessary to clarify the purpose of forensic science and to put systems in place to achieve this purpose.
Science is used to assist the administration of justice. The results come to attention when the results of examinations support investigations or prosecutions. This creates a danger that the important aspect of exonerating innocent people is ignored. It could be argued that this science is at its most powerful when it is being used as police intelligence or to eliminate suspects from enquires and thus save valuable investigation time.
There is an artificial divide created in the adversarial system where institutions are identified with the prosecution case while individual privately funded scientists work with the defence to identify flaws in the prosecution case.
This model is not a good one for forensic science. The scientific findings are neutral of themselves very often and only have meaning when examined in a particular context.
In the present economic climate forensic science must be used both efficiently and effectively. The efficiencies can be measured within the boundaries of the institutions but effectiveness needs to be considered with reference to the wider system in which forensic science is used. To achieve effectiveness, the forensic scientist needs to reach out to the other stakeholders in the criminal justice system and ensure that tests and examinations being used are the correct ones and that their value and their limitations are well understood. I can see very clearly from today’s programme that a number of key stakeholders are represented including our own national police service, the Garda Síochána.
Effectiveness can be seen to be the interaction of impact, people and culture. As leaders of the forensic science community, we have a responsibility to align these parameters to provide effective forensic science.
There are added challenges in today’s world that are different from previous times because of the ease of travel and the instant flow of communication across the world. Ease of travel means that criminals have no difficulties in crossing national borders either to commit crime or to escape detection and the speed at which news travels across the world means that a court case in one jurisdiction can have consequences for specialists in other jurisdictions. Theses features of modern life make it important that communities of practice such as this one are active so that methods are harmonised and, just as importantly, relationships of trust developed. This means each country has the benefit of developing technologies in a uniform way and that because of individual relationships individuals can contact each other when operational needs arise.
I understand that the Ireland was one of the founding members of ENFSI back in 1993 and it is noteworthy that it has grown from the eleven founding members at that time to a robust organization representing 65 forensic institutions across Europe today. We know that a strong Europe is needed in political and economic terms. Justice matters are not just the concern of each individual State as crime is no respecter of borders. Because this is so it is essential that we have ever better cooperation across borders.
I am aware of the Council conclusions on the vision for European Forensic Science 2020 including the creation of a European Forensic Science Area and the development of forensic science infrastructure in Europe. This decision arose from an initiative of the Polish presidency. I can’t help but notice that your chairman, Pawel Rybicki, is from Poland so perhaps it is reasonable to speculate that he had some involvement in this initiative? I am also reliably informed that the objectives set out in the achievement of this decision are very much in line with the objectives of your Network. As you may know, Ireland holds Presidency of the European Council from January 2013 and it may be that this is an area we could look at progressing further.
ENFSI is very much about cooperation and harmonisation. Given the history of Ireland, it is therefore particularly uplifting to highlight cooperation between the North and South of Ireland as a model good practice in all areas of criminal justice, including forensic science. You will be aware from the seminar programme that the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, will address you this afternoon and I have no doubt that he will highlight the benefits of co-operation between the forensic science services, North and South. I have developed a close working relationship with Minister Ford across the range of our responsibilities and that co-operation is reflected between our respective Justice Departments and all the related agencies. I know that Mr. Stan Brown, the CEO of Forensic Science Northern Ireland is present today with some of his senior staff who meet with staff from Eolaíocht Fhóiréinseach Éireann on a regular basis.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I know that organising an annual conference of this nature is never an easy one for those who have the responsibility. I would like to congratulate Dr Sheila Willis of our Forensic Science Laboratory and everyone else concerned with this meeting for the excellence arrangements and for drafting a programme that manages to combine both work and pleasure.
However, I also note that while you are all toiling away at your annual meeting, the accompanying persons will be visiting our beautiful adjacent county of Wicklow to see the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough (or the Glen of the Two Lakes in English), the magnificent Powerscourt Gardens and various other sights in what promises to be lovely sunny weather. Colleagues, I can only commend you on your spirit of self sacrifice. All complaints should, of course, be addressed to Dr Willis!
In fairness to Dr Willis, I also note that there has been an attempt to balance the scales of justice and that your own social programme includes not only includes dinner in the Jameson distillery tonight but a Gala dinner in the beautiful surrounds of Dublin Castle tomorrow evening which I think you will greatly enjoy. Colleagues, I very much regret that, due to political commitments, I will be unable to join you for your Gala dinner tomorrow evening but I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time.
Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,
Thank you for your very kind invitation to open your Annual Meeting which I greatly appreciate. I wish you all a most successful and enjoyable conference. I also hope you enjoy the hospitality that we pride ourselves on and that you take away happy memories of your visit to Dublin and to Ireland.
Thank you.