Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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823. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the application of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967, if necessary by an amendment to section 4(b) thereof (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21892/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is no plan at this time to amend section 4(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 in the manner referred to by the Deputy. However, I can inform the Deputy that the legislation governing criminal procedure is kept under constant review by my Department, and updates are made from time to time when the need becomes apparent.

One such example is the Criminal Procedure Bill, which is progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the moment, which will introduce a number of important reforms, including providing for preliminary trial hearings in criminal trials for the first time.