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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Bail Legislation.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

33 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/98]

Tom Enright

Ceist:

43 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the non-making of the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/98]

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

51 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3136/98]

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

76 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3178/98]

Louis J. Belton

Ceist:

88 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/98]

Michael Creed

Ceist:

102 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3180/98]

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

112 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/98]

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

122 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the commencement order for the Bail Act, 1997 has not been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3179/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 43, 51, 76, 88, 102, 112 and 122 together.

I refer the House to my reply to Question No. 146 of 27 November last.

The Bail Act, 1997 was passed into law by the Oireachtas in May of last year. Section 13 of the Act provides that the Act is to come into operation by order to be made by the Minister.

The provisions of the Act have not been brought into force because existing prison accommodation would not be able to deal with the additional demand. I am sure that all Members of the House would agree that we need to avoid a situation where convicted persons would have to be released to make space for additional remand prisoners.

I will bring the provisions of the Bail Act into force as quickly as possible. I am keeping the matter under review in the context of the major prison building programme which I have under way at present which includes a new remand prison for 400 beside Wheatfield.

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