I was speaking on section 22 in the context of Deputy Collins's query as to when I would make the order bringing the Bill as enacted into effect. I indicated that certain discussions have to take place with the law officers to ensure that the procedural arrangements will be in hand when the Bill comes into operation. I would not envisage a long delay, because the procedural arrangements should not be complicated. What might delay its coming into operation would be any question of referral. I would imagine a number of weeks following that.
Criminal Law (Jurisdiction Bill), 1975 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed).
Question again proposed: "That section 22 stand part of the Bill."
I was hoping that we might be in for a reasonably long delay because that would fulfil the purpose of my amendment, the amendment the Minister did not accept. It is a very solid amendment to the section and it would have delayed the introduction of the Bill. I do not want to repeat the arguments I made on the amendment, but I and the other members of my party are perfectly satisfied there should be a delay in the making of the order. The Minister is not of the same opinion, and for the reasons he gave. To be fair to him, we did not convince him and, in fairness to ourselves, he did not convince us.
Question put.
The Committee divided: Tá, 68; Níl, 60.
Tá
- Barry, Peter.
- Barry, Richard.
- Begley, Michael.
- Belton, Luke.
- Belton, Paddy.
- Bermingham, Joseph.
- Bruton, John.
- Burke, Dick.
- Burke, Joan T.
- Burke, Liam.
- Byrne, Hugh.
- Clinton, Mark A.
- Cluskey, Frank.
- Collins, Edward.
- Conlan, John F.
- Coogan, Fintan.
- Cooney, Patrick M.
- Corish, Brendan.
- Cosgrave, Liam.
- Costello, Declan.
- Coughlan, Stephen.
- Creed, Donal.
- Crotty, Kieran.
- Cruise-O'Brien, Conor.
- Desmond, Barry.
- Desmond, Eileen.
- Dockrell, Henry P.
- Dockrell, Maurice.
- Donegan, Patrick S.
- Donnellan, John.
- Enright, Thomas.
- Esmonde, John G.
- Finn, Martin.
- FitzGerald, Garret.
- Fitzpatrick, Tom (Cavan).
- Flanagan, Oliver J.
- Gilhawley, Eugene.
- Governey, Desmond.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Harte, Patrick D.
- Hegarty, Patrick.
- Hogan O'Higgins, Brigid.
- Jones, Denis F.
- Kelly, John.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Kyne, Thomas A.
- L'Estrange, Gerald.
- Lynch, Gerard.
- McDonald, Charles B.
- McLaughlin, Joseph.
- McMahon, Larry.
- Malone, Patrick.
- Murphy, Michael P.
- O'Brien, Fergus.
- O'Donnell, Tom.
- O'Leary, Michael.
- O'Sullivan, John L.
- Pattison, Seamus.
- Reynolds, Patrick J.
- Ryan, John J.
- Ryan, Richie.
- Staunton, Myles.
- Taylor, Frank.
- Thornley, David.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Toal, Brendan.
- Tully, James.
- White, James.
Níl
- Allen, Lorcan.
- Andrews, David.
- Barrett, Sylvester.
- Blaney, Neil T.
- Brady, Philip A.
- Carter, Frank.
- Collins, Gerard.
- Connolly, Gerard.
- Crinion, Brendan.
- Cronin, Jerry.
- Crowley, Flor.
- Cunningham, Liam.
- Daly, Brendan.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dowling, Joe.
- Fahey, Jackie.
- Farrell, Joseph.
- Faulkner, Pádraig.
- Fitzgerald, Gene.
- Fitzpatrick, Tom (Dublin Central).
- Flanagan, Seán.
- French, Seán.
- Gallagher, Denis.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Gibbons, Hugh.
- Gibbons, James.
- Gogan, Richard P.
- Haughey, Charles.
- Healy, Augustine A.
- Hussey, Thomas.
- Brennan, Joseph.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Brugha, Ruairí
- Burke, Raphael P.
- Calleary, Seán.
- Kenneally, William.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Lalor, Patrick J.
- Leonard, James.
- Loughnane, William.
- Lynch, Celia.
- Lynch, Jack.
- McEllistrim, Thomas.
- MacSharry, Ray.
- Meaney, Tom.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Moore, Seán.
- Murphy, Ciarán
- Nolan, Thomas.
- Noonan, Michael.
- O'Connor, Timothy.
- O'Kennedy, Michael.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Malley, Desmond.
- Power, Patrick.
- Smith, Patrick.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Walsh, Seán.
- Wilson, John P.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Kelly and B. Desmond: Níl, Deputies Lalor and Healy.
Question declared carried.
SCHEDULE.
Question proposed: "That the Schedule be the Schedule to the Bill."
During the course of this debate we expressed our apprehension about certain sections of the Bill. I do not propose to repeat them at the present time.
We expressed concern about some of the new definitions introduced in this Bill for robbery and aggravated burglary. So far as these are scheduled offences referred to in section 2, they will now constitute offences in this State if committed in Northern Ireland. We expressed our objections in toto and the principle under which we objected to some of these sections still stands. There is no point in going into detail now.
Question put and agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported with amendments.
Report Stage ordered for Tuesday, 2nd March, 1976.
Business suspended at 5.35 p.m. and resumed at 7 p.m.