I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 59 and 136 together. I am aware of the need to update the law on criminal insanity and a Bill to amend the law in this area is being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. As announced in the Government's legislative programme on 29 January 2002, it is expected that the Bill will be published this year. I hope the Bill will be published during the life of the present Dáil.
The Bill is a very complex one and will require very detailed consideration during its passage through the Oireachtas. It will contain extensive provisions dealing with fitness to plead at a criminal trial and a definition of criminal insanity and will also provide for a new verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity to replace the present guilty but insane verdict. The Bill will introduce a new plea of guilty but with diminished responsibility in cases of murder. In addition, it will establish a new review body, the function of which will be to review the cases of persons detained after verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity or findings of unfitness to plead.
Priority attention was given to the Mental Health Bill which has now been enacted. In addition, a very large volume of other priority legislation has had to be processed in my Department and in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, particularly since the terrorist attack on New York last September. I am confident that the Bill will be published within the timeframe I have given.