Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Tánaiste will have heard, as we all did, the appeals this morning from his co-professionals, representatives of those practising barristers who indicated very clearly that the Tánaiste is on a dangerous course. It is important to remind ourselves that protections of innocent citizens are at stake and it is not only about addressing those who are law breakers. We are dealing with major changes that can have a dramatic effect on a situation in which any citizen could find himself or herself erroneously.

There is a huge responsibility for every possible care to be employed in the evaluation of the measures being presented and that is not happening. People of the Tánaiste's profession clearly indicated yesterday and again this morning that this is extremely dangerous, that what is at stake is of such fundamental importance within the law codes that it requires the greatest care and scrutiny.

The response from the Tánaiste's office when he was not available this morning was that there have been three weeks of debates. Bits of three days over three weeks were allocated to the address of the Criminal Justice Bill, not three weeks of debate in the House. It was erroneous and a total misrepresentation of the situation that was reported from the Tánaiste's office on "Morning Ireland" this morning.

The Tánaiste has a responsibility to withdraw the proposition to apply the guillotine and not only should it be left open-ended but the Tánaiste should withdraw the proposal to proceed to Committee Stage at this point. There is much need for more and greater evaluation. We concluded Second Stage only yesterday and we will see the bang of the gavel once again today with the passage of this at 3.30 p.m. When will this stop? Will the Tánaiste heed the appeals not only of representatives in this House but of those from within the bar profession who represent the minds of legal practitioners who say that this is wrong? It is time to stop it.

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