asked the Minister for Justice if he will list the organisations which are proscribed in this country; and if he will state the action the Government is at present taking in regard to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Proscribed Organisations.
142.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply that I gave to a question on this subject on 11th November, 1971.
The action that is taken in regard to unlawful organisations is a matter for the Garda Síochána. As I have already indicated publicly I am having proposals for changing the present law examined. I hope to bring a Bill before the House in the near future.
Can the Minister give any indication of what "the near future" means in that context? He did indicate in his public pronouncement that he was running into extraordinary difficulties in the drafting of it.
I am afraid these difficulties still exist but notwithstanding them I would be very hopeful that a Bill would be introduced in the House before the end of the present month.
I suggest to the Minister that the reason for the extraordinary difficulties is that the Minister has come headlong against the requirements of the rule of law.
There are a number of interpretations that might be put on that suggestion. Perhaps I will not take them up.
Question No. 143.
Might I ask the Minister——
The Chair has called Question No. 143.
I do not want to press the Minister unduly. Would the difficulties relate more to the rules of evidence rather than be of a constitutional nature?
There are difficulties in various fields of the law. Not the least are the difficulties in the laws of evidence.