asked the Minister for Justice whether he will establish a Criminal Law Reform Commission in order that the process of codifying the criminal law may be started.
Written Answers. - Criminal Law Codification.
36.
I have no proposals for the establishment of a separate Law Reform Commission for the purpose referred to by the Deputy.
I would refer the Deputy to a reply which my predecessor gave to similar questions put to him on 20 April last — columns 2426 and 2427 of the Official Report — in which he stated that his approach to the need for updating the criminal law was to deal with the matter on a systematic basis affording priority to those areas most in need of review. I share his view in that regard.
To attempt a comprehensive review and codification of the entire field of criminal law would necessitate the diversion of staff resources from priority areas. A great deal of work has already been done, however. Over the last two and a half years a significant number of important criminal law Bills have been enacted or have been introduced: the Extradition (Amendment) Act, 1987 and the Prohibition of Incitement to Racial Hatred Act, 1989; the Criminal Law Rape (Amendment), Bill; the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Bill; the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence) Bill and the Larceny Bill.