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Select Committee on Legislation and Security debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Garda Síochána Bill, 1996: Committee Stage.

I welcome the Minister for Justice, Deputy Owen, and her officials, Mr. John Shelly, Mr. Kevin O'Grady and Mr. Noel Dowling. Our meeting is earlier than usual as there are a number of Justice related items to be dealt with in the House for which Opposition spokespersons must attend. Deputy O'Donnell is required to be in the Dáil for oral parliamentary questions to the Department of Health.

This Bill arises out of an unfortunate industrial relations dispute in the Garda Síochána. As legislators, we take the view that any police force must run smoothly to foster good public relations and maintain public confidence, which is paramount. It must be acknowledged that the Minister for Justice and her predecessor, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, made every effort to facilitate a resolution of this problem. A number of serious initiatives were taken to bring the parties together which, unfortunately, did not prove successful. It was hoped this Bill would not prove necessary but we were left with no choice in the matter.

The second item on the agenda is the third report of the working group on the courts towards a court structure. It was circulated to Members last week and I understand the Minister wants to make a brief statement on this report at the conclusion of the debate on the Bill. We have not examined the report in great detail. I suggest the Minister gives us a brief outline on the report by way of introductory remarks. We will have an opportunity during the recess to examine the report and the heads of the Bill in detail. We will adjourn proceedings following brief remarks from Opposition Members.

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