Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Strong points have been raised by people outside this House who are entitled to raise concerns. Some of them are recognised groups like the Human Rights Commission, while others are more loosely organised groups like groups of lawyers from the Bar Library. At the very minimum, would it not have made sense for us to have the opportunity to discuss the points raised by these groups with them before putting the Minister's proposals into the legislation? Would it not make sense to do so from the point of view of achieving an effective and practical outcome that will be of use and benefit in the fight against gangland criminals? Would it not have been more sensible to follow that course of action?

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