I am putting it to the Dáil that if they read and examine it they will agree that it is liable to misconstruction, and that the powers granted by this Act may in certain circumstances be extended to every member of a force which has been detailed by a responsible officer to arrest.
We all understand, I hope, the intentions, but I have been trying to persuade the Dáil that the amendment, as framed, does not secure the intention either of the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Home Affairs, or both. I argue that all the powers, that are sought for would be secured if this amendment stopped at the words "persons." and that there would be less ambiguity. But, as you have ruled that in a definition clause it is in order to extend certain powers to new people, we have to discuss it from the standpoint of its being in order. I maintain that it is not good policy to extend powers of arrest to military forces beyond the powers they at present have under the ordinary law. A police officer could, under the ordinary law, call upon military forces to effect an arrest, and there is no necessity for any increased powers such are as outlined in this amendment. The amendment empowers military forces to do things which it is not intended should be given to them and, even though we all agree with the intention, this amendment is so framed that it is liable to misinterpretation and misconstruction, and may include the granting of much wider powers to classes of men who should not receive those powers. I therefore ask the Dáil to oppose the amendment.
