Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Last November the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated he would bring forward further legislative proposals because of a number of issues that had arisen relating to bail, sentencing, the right to silence and so on. The proposals have been in draft form and have been worked out in the Department. We also said we would prepare legislation on a DNA database. The House called for such updating. It has been agreed that fingerprints, like DNA samples, may be retained indefinitely and the Garda will have access to a much larger intelligence source. Over the past two years there was condemnation that our database was behind other countries and our legislative base was not adequate. In November when we discussed these issues, questions arose regarding detention periods, particularly the detention period associated with tiger kidnappings.

The Minister's proposals are in the criminal justice Bill. We have introduced a large number of Bills but this legislation will update them and it will be tougher. As Deputy Kenny said, we are dealing with more sophisticated criminals who are big into drug trafficking, firearms and other gangland activity. That means, periodically, one must do things that, on civil libertarian grounds, one would not normally do. The initiatives will toughen up the bail and sentencing provisions and provide for new offences.

These issues were considered in drafting previous criminal justice legislation but it was considered that a tougher line than was necessary would have resulted. However, because of the gangland crime last year, we must take that line.

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