Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The difference is between where someone is being arraigned and where other types of matters are being assessed, which is the second part. It is not only arraigning a person but considering matters such as case management, the availability of witnesses and the length of the trail. We would be going into a different type of list. This is simply focusing on arraignment. It would be more appropriate that the court would be able to decide that without having to have a test or that a certain bar would have to be reached. The test that is provided for is adequate. It strikes the right balance between something that is workable and practical in reality in the courtroom. We are setting a very high bar whereby the court can decide whether it feels it is appropriate. Adding the words “in the interests of justice” would set a higher bar.