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Thu 08 Aug 2003Garda to get greater powers under McDowell proposalsThe Government is to extend the maximum period of time gardaí can detain crime suspects under new legislation to be published today. The Criminal Justice Bill, 2003, will allow for a range of measures to strengthen Garda powers, including those to compel suspects to provide DNA samples during investigations.Gardaí will also be able to extend the time they can preserve the scene of a crime for forensic examination under the legislation to be published by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.