Proposed Legislation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 January 2004

Thursday, 29 January 2004

Questions (78)

John Deasy

Question:

72 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will be introducing legislation to provide a statutory basis for sentencing principles for public order offences. [2510/04]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Acts 1994 and 2003 provide a comprehensive legislative basis for the prosecution and punishment of a range of public order offences and I see no need to provide any further statutory basis for sentencing for such offences.

As I have already announced, however, I am considering including provisions for a fixed penalty procedure in respect of certain lesser public order offences in the Criminal Justice Bill, which I expect to publish this session.