Vol. 423 No. 5
61 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the escalating crime figures, he proposes to bring in legislation to reform the criminal justice system to make it more difficult for criminals to escape justice and to strengthen the hands of the gardaí in combating crime; and if he proposes to increase Garda strength for this purpose.
It goes without saying that I am fully committed to taking all steps necessary to combat crime. The Deputy's question relates specifically to legislation and Garda strength. On the legislative side there are a number of important developments in the pipeline.
I recently published a Criminal Justice Bill which will enable the Court of Criminal Appeal to review unduly lenient sentences and allow a court to order an offender to pay compensation to a victim in certain circumstances.
A Bill to provide for the seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of serious crime is in the course of being drafted as a matter of priority.
A Juvenile Justice Bill is being prepared which will repeal the Children Act, 1908, and replace it with a modern Bill. I am also considering specific proposals to update the law in relation to certain public order offences. These proposals include the possible creation of new offences relating to public drunkenness, the use of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in public and disorderly conduct generally. I want to strengthen the law in this area to make our streets as safe as possible. The proposals are based on recommendations by the Law Reform Commission and will be included in a proposed Criminal Justice Bill which I hope to be able to publish in the near future.
As I said in reply to a similar question on 9 July other very important legislative proposals I have in the criminal law area are a Criminal Law Bill, an Extradition Bill, a Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill, a Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill and a Criminal Procedure Bill.
I have also set up an Advisory Committee on Fraud to review the legal, technical and operational aspects of that type of crime. The Committee will report before Christmas and the Law Reform Commission Report on Dishonesty is also expected shortly. I intend that any legislative changes found to be necessary in this area will be dealt with as a matter of priority and introduced with a minimum of delay.
