Time running out for McDowell's crime proposals
Issued : Tuesday 13 February, 2007
The Government's lamentable record on crime, and in tackling gangland
violence and murder in particular, has led to today's last-gasp Criminal Justice
proposals. Finally abandoning the illusion that the drug lords were a 'dying
wasp' and the horrific litany of gun murders were a 'final sting' Minister
McDowell seeks to calm genuine public concern.
The Justice Committee spent many months last year dealing with the Minister's comprehensive crime package. Clearly the upsurge in violence, murder, and drug seizures are evidence that the Minister's measures have not worked.
There are 20 sitting days until the Dail Easter recess. Many believe that the Dail will not reconvene after that time. The Minister has yet to produce a Bill to enact his latest set of proposals. He has indicated that the Bill will be finalised and published within two weeks - leaving sitting 13 days to debate and enact the legislation in both Dail and Seanad.
The Opposition will give maximum support to any measure that strengthens the hand of the Gardai in tackling crime. It is a deep regret, however, that the proposals put forward by Labour last year were not accepted by Minister McDowell.
In particular, we will again seek to expand the detention periods for all serious crimes to 48 hours (a proposal rejecting by the Justice Minister last year). We will also seek to give powers to the DPP to appeal against acquittals, either in the case of an acquittal by direction of a judge or where new convincing evidence emerges showing a miscarriage of justice or jury interference.
Labour welcomes the belated recognition of the threat posed to Irish society by the upsurge in crime. We will assist the current Minister to fight crime for his remaining few months, and are determined that an alternative government will place this issue at the top of our political agenda.
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