Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

As the Deputy knows, the Bail Act has been enacted. All the aforementioned criteria are relied upon regularly by the Garda. Whether the Judiciary feels the applications by the Garda to withhold bail are correct is a matter for it to decide. I share the Deputy's apprehension that the bail referendum and Bail Act introduced on foot thereof do not seem to have a reforming effect on circumstances in which serious evidence given by serious gardaí in court is sometimes overruled or set aside. Bail is sometimes granted in the teeth of serious opposition by members of the Garda.

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