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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Criminal Law Reform.

Ray Burke

Question:

36 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to reform criminal procedure or to amend and replace the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967. [7027/96]

The Deputy will be aware that I have a major programme of criminal law reform under way at present. While, of their nature, all of these proposed measures will impinge to a greater or lesser extent on criminal procedural matters, I should refer the Deputy in particular to the proposed Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. I am concerned about some of the procedural arrangements for dealing with criminal cases and, in particular, the amount of Garda time which is spent unproductively in court. The Miscellaneous Provisions Bill — which is at an advanced stage of preparation — will contain a series of measures to address this issue.

In regard to the specific matter of amending the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967, as I indicated in the House last week during the debate on the Private Members' Criminal Procedure Bill I am prepared to consider referring the question of the abolition of, or improvements which might be made in the procedures surrounding the preliminary examinations of indictable offences in the District Court, to the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure.

Any further proposals I may have in this general area will, of course, be announced in the usual way in due course.
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