Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Scrutiny of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2021

Photo of Barry WardBarry Ward (Fine Gael)
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I am afraid not. I am just conscious of a Bill we have in the Seanad where colleagues of mine have brought forward amendments, Senator Regina Doherty particularly, related to statements or references being given at sentence stage as things that would be subject to cross-examination by the prosecution, for example. That was ultimately put into a Government Bill. A stand-alone Bill obviously takes time in process like this, for example. It requires time in both Houses, which is more of a difficulty in the Dáil than in the Seanad, where there is already a Bill going through that addresses criminal justice issues. I just wonder if that would be more feasible. I appreciate that the Deputy is not proprietorial about it and it makes sense that if a vehicle does come along that suits it, an amendment could be stuck in to that effect that might acceptable to the Government. I appreciate what the Deputy is saying.