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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 1923

Vol. 5 No. 21

PUBLIC SAFETY (POWERS OF ARREST AND DETENTION) - TEMPORARY BILL, 1923—(FIRST STAGE).

I ask the leave of the Dáil to have printed and circulated a Bill entitled the Public Safety (Powers of Arrest and Detention) Temporary Bill. It is known to Deputies that the Public Safety Act will expire on the 1st of February next, and I have had to advise the Executive Council that, for order and security to life and property, in the coming year, it will be necessary that the Executive should have powers of arrest and to detain certain persons reasonably suspected of having committed certain offences which will be set out in the Schedule.

It is unfortunate that the situation should call for the introduction of a Bill of this kind; but it is the fact and our responsibility to the people obliges us to face the fact and to take measures to meet a situation of that kind. We have not, yet, in all areas of the country sufficiently normal or sufficiently peaceful conditions to ensure that a high standard of civic sense will prevail, and to ensure that evidence that would satisfy a Court will be always forthcoming against people who commit crimes.

This Bill then is introduced to meet the situation as it exists, and as it is likely to continue to exist for some months. It will be merely an Internment Bill. It is not proposed now to bring before the Dáil all the Sections of the Public Safety Bill. The idea rather is to break up that Bill into three distinct Bills, one dealing with the question of internment, another being a Firearms Bill, which will be permanent, and a Criminal Law Amendment Bill, which will be introduced early in the next Session. This Bill that is now introduced deals merely with the question of having powers to arrest and detain certain persons on reasonable suspicion—on something short of legal proof, proof that would satisfy a Court. The Bill, I hope, will be in Deputies' hands to-morrow or next day, and it is proposed to take the Second Reading on Friday next.

This Bill does not appear on the Order Paper. I take it that leave will be given to introduce the Bill?

I take it that leave to introduce does not carry with it assent to the Second Reading being taken on Friday?

Question put and agreed to.

Mr. O'HIGGINS

It is proposed take the Second Reading on Friday.

Before assenting to that, I would like to know when Deputies shall have the Bill in their hands? It is obviously a Bill that is raising very important questions of principle, and will require time for consideration before the Second Reading is taken. If we are not to have the Bill before Thursday that would not give time.

Mr. O'HIGGINS

The Bill is at present with the printer, and it should be possible to have it in Deputies' hands to-morrow afternoon.

Second Stage of Bill ordered for Friday.

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