Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Select Committee on Justice and Equality

Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage

9:00 am

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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The problem is that all these discussions are taking place against the backdrop of a massive lack of confidence in An Garda Síochána and members' discretionary powers. That makes it difficult. I was arrested under suspicion of drink driving a number of years ago. I was not and was well under the limit but when I was leaving the station the sergeant told me to come back when I was sober. What is to say under other circumstances the sergeant could say, "You are a danger to yourself and others"? It is probably an extreme example but it relates to the lack of confidence in the Garda in terms of this discretion.