Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

The debate for the past 20 minutes or so is proof of what we all said earlier about the complexities and problems with this type of rushed legislation. This is the third loophole we have identified. There are probably many other anomalies. This section begs the question what we were doing in 2006 because we are now introducing a range of new penalties and increasing the sentence from two to five years. I am not questioning the increase but what happened between June of last year and now to result in an increase in the sentence to a longer period. Why did we not set it at five years last year?

We need to return and debate the complexities of this at the earliest opportunity. Other anomalies and loopholes will be highlighted as cases are taken and as barristers and the courts grapple with this legislation and the 2006 Act. I hope they will not affect convictions and that judges will find in our favour as legislators. This is the wrong way to conduct business.

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