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Fri 08 Aug 2003DNA database provided for in McDowell BillThe Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has announced plans to give the gardaí powers to take DNA samples from criminal suspects without their consent.It is one of a range of measures aimed at strengthening Garda powers, including the extension of the maximum detention period for crime suspects from 12 to 24 hours, contained in the Criminal Justice Bill (2003).