Vol. 560 No. 5
59 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is intended to introduce the promised legislation to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal against District Court sentences which he believes to have been too lenient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/03]
A commitment to extend to the Director of Public Prosecutions a power to appeal against lenient sentences in serious cases before the District Court is contained in An Agreed Programme for Government. The issues involved in the implementation of the commitment are not free from difficulty and require detailed examination before proposals for legislation can be developed. I would intend to make a further announcement on the matter in due course.
