Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner and her team and wish them well in their fight against crime. I have two brief questions, the first of which has been touched on previously and concerns the subject of bail. As a Member of the Seanad, part of my life involves travelling the country from Donegal to Kerry occasionally and one concern that comes across clearly at meetings and gatherings is that the bail laws are not working sufficiently. While I accept it is a matter for the court to set bail, is there enough strenuous opposition by gardaí to bail being granted in certain cases, as they are entitled to do? Second, is the Commissioner concerned that the number of crimes being committed by people on bail is, if anything, increasing? It is a source of worry and this is the message I have been getting from people generally. The Commissioner may wish to deal with that question first.