Vol. 418 No. 6
104 Mr. Tunney asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the sustained representations made by Deputy Tunney in connection with the need for updating legislation to cope inter alia with the nuisance and menace of groups who congregate and misbehave on roadways, pathways and other public places; and when such legislation will be introduced.
I appreciate the concern of the Deputy in this matter, and I would direct his attention to my comments made in this House on 2 April last, during the course of the debate on the Adjournment.
The position is that I am considering specific proposals to update the law in relation to certain public order offences. These include the possible creation of new offences relating to public drunkeness; the use of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in public; and, disorderly conduct which is likely to cause annoyance. The Law Reform Commission recommended such a course in its Report on Vagrancy and Related Offences and its Report on Offences under the Dublin Police Acts and related offences. I hope to include any provisions which may be necessary in a Criminal Justice Bill which is being prepared in my Department at present and which I hope to publish in the near future.
