asked the Minister for Justice if he will elaborate on his statement to the Fianna Fáil ArdFheis on 20th February 1972 regarding the Government's intention to introduce amending legislation or procedures to reduce the incidence of the granting of bail.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bail Legislation.
20.
It is not quite correct to say that I spoke of legislation to reduce the incidence of bail. Reducing the incidence of bail is not necessarily the only way to do something to solve the problems that have arisen from the wider granting of bail in recent years and it was legislation in this broader context that I spoke of. However, until the legislation is actually introduced cannot give any further details as to what it may contain.
Is the Minister aware that two years ago a promise was made in this Dáil to bring in amending legislation? Is he further aware that there are some people on bail who have committed as many as 29 crimes and who are cocking a snook even at the police; that one man who was allowed out on bail recently and who was wanted for a very serious crime has disappeared and this is being kept very quite, the man who was up for the murder of Garda Fallon?
I did indicate in this House more than once that, within the limits of the Constitution, by which I am confined, I was endeavouring to deal with problems that arose in connection with bail consequent on a decision of the Supreme Court in 1967. While my Department did prepare a Bill which, in my view, would have dealt adequately with the matter, I was advised that, in the light of the judgment of the Supreme Court, it was likely to be found unconstitutional. As a result, as I indicated recently, I have had to approach the matter in a different way.
Would the Minister tell us why that should take two years? Has valuable time not been lost in dealing with criminals who are allowed to flout the law with impunity?