Vol. 481 No. 7
20 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/97]
24 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigations, if any, he has held into the circumstances in which a person (details supplied) who was remanded in custody by the Dublin District Court on charges involving drugs worth £1.5 million was later released from custody on bail of £350; if the person in question is now back in custody; the new procedures, if any, he will introduce to prevent a repeat of such an event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17005/97]
51 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17016/97]
56 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17010/97]
60 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17013/97]
62 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17011/97]
68 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17015/97]
77 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17020/97]
81 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/97]
84 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17009/97]
93 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17014/97]
95 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17019/97]
104 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17007/97]
105 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/97]
106 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances, if any, in which a person (details supplied) charged with possession of cannabis who was refused bail was subsequently released on bail of £350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17008/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 24, 51, 56, 60, 62, 68, 77, 81, 84, 93, 95, 104, 105 and 106 together.
Deputies will be aware from media comment that the president of the District Court is examining the circumstances of the case in question in conjunction with the chief clerk of the Dublin Metropolitan District Court. That examination is not yet completed.
The Minister has been provided with some factual information in this case which points towards human error within the courts. While in no doubt that this is a matter of understandable public concern which must be investigated, the Minister thinks it would be wrong, pending completion of the examination being carried out by the president of the District Court, to provide partial information, lest it prove prejudicial to the president's examination.
The Minister thinks its important however — and that it is not in any way prejudicial to the examination now under way — to inform the House that in advance of completion of this examination the president, in conjunction with the chief clerk of the Dublin Metropolitan District Court, made changes to arrangements regarding the issuing of warrants designed to ensure that there can be no repetition of the circumstances which are in this case. The person in question has not yet been rearrested and is being actively sought by the Garda.
