4. (1) For the purpose of the prevention and investigation of criminal offences in the State, the national contact point in the State may make a request to the national contact point of a designated state for access to vehicle registration data held by that designated state in order to conduct automated searches in an individual case in respect of vehicle registration data held on the database of that designated state.

(2) The automated reply from the national contact point of the designated state concerned shall be received by the national contact point in the State.

(3) Searches in accordance with this section may be conducted only through the use of a vehicle’s full VIN or full registration number.

(4) The national contact point in the State may process any personal data received by it under this section, under a F5[European Union instrument, the Agreement or the Trade and Cooperation Agreement], from the contact point of a designated state solely for the purposes for which the data have been supplied, unless that other national contact point authorises processing for other purposes.

(5) Personal data received by the national contact point in the State under this section from the national contact point of a designated state may be supplied by the national contact point in the State, with the prior authorisation of the national contact point of that other state to—

(a) the courts,

(b) the Garda Síochána,

(c) the Director of Public Prosecutions, or

(d) other persons whom the national contact point in the State considers appropriate,

where required for the purposes of the prevention and investigation of criminal offences.