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Minister Flanagan announces appointment of new Director General of Forensic Science Ireland

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has announced

the appointment of Chris Enright as the new Director General of Forensic

Science Ireland (FSI).

Speaking today in Dublin, Minister Flanagan said: "I am delighted to

announce that Chris Enright will be joining Forensic Science Ireland in

early 2018 as its new Director General.  The role that FSI plays in the

investigation and prosecution of crime is an absolutely vital one.

Chris is taking over at a time when we are beginning to see the benefits of

renewed investment following the financial crisis.  We have already

recruited 15 additional scientists and analsyts to work in FSI over the

past 2 years.  Most importantly, work has begun on a state-of-the-art new

laboratory for FSI, which I know everyone will acknowledge has been badly

needed for a number of years.  The coming together of FSI and the Garda

Technical Bureau in this new custom-built facility gives effect to a major

recommendation of the Garda Inspectorate as part of the ongoing programme

of Garda reform."

The Minister pointed out that the new laboratory would ensure that FSI had

the space and facilities it needed to carry out the range of forensic work,

and that it would provide a bespoke home for the DNA database, which is

playing an ever-increasing role in the investigation of crime.

Closing his remarks, the Minister said: "I want to take this opportunity to

again thank Chris's predecessor Sheila Willis, following her retirement

earlier this year, for her decades of service, and to wish Chris every

success in this new role."