Select Committee on Legislation and Security debate -
Wednesday, 19 Jan 1994

SECTION 9.

Question proposed: "That section 9 stand part of the Bill."

Mr. J. Mitchell

I am at a loss to understand subsection (5) but perhaps, there is good reason for its inclusion. It states:

Where the Director of Public Prosecutions accepts to any extent any allegation made by the defendant in giving to the court information required by an order under the section, the court may treat that acceptance as conclusive to the matters to which it relates.

Could the Minister explain what is behind that provision? I am at a loss to understand it. There may be some legal reason for it but I do not understand what it is.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

The provision is inserted to make for efficiency in that it will smooth the process in the court. If the DPP and the defendant agree, then it will save an enormous amount of time and research by the court itself and, it is hoped, will smooth the process within the court case itself.

Question put and agreed to.