Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
363 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the results of the public consultation process undertaken by his Department with respect to the Garda Síochána Bill 2004; the persons and organisations from which submissions were received; if any of the recommendations received result in changes in the Bill’s provisions; and if so, which. [10894/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAround 15 persons and organisations responded to the invitation to make submissions in relation to the scheme of the Garda Síochána Bill published last July. In addition, views were received from Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, and the Director of Public Prosecutions when the scheme of the Bill was first published. During the drafting process there were consultations with Garda management, meetings with a number of the Garda associations, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and there was continual consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The individuals and bodies who made submissions were 1: Mr. Brian B. Waters, member of Amnesty International; 2: Mr. Philip Cronin; 3: Mr. Michael Kearney; 4: Mr. Brendan Cafferty; 5: Fingal Development Board; 6: Irish Council for Civil Liberties; 7: Dr. Barry Vaughan; 8: Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin; 9: Mr. Jim Desmond; 10: Mr. Tim O'Leary, Listowel Town Council; 11: Professor Dermot Walsh, University of Limerick; 12: Cork County Council; 13: Garda superintendents; 14: Mr. Dan Danaher, Irish south-west branch NUJ; and finally, 15: the Human Rights Commission.
All the submissions were welcome, were given due consideration and contributed to the process. The Deputy will be aware that the final Bill as published in February builds upon and in some respects differs from the original scheme. I am currently considering amendments arising from points made by Senators during the Second Stage Debate on the Bill in the Seanad. It would not be feasible to try and link all the changes made to particular submissions received.
