Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I probably have 20 seconds in which to express my total frustration with this Bill and the way in which we have tried to deal with it. In most cases, no evidence was presented for the House to discuss and no expert witnesses, as it were, explained why major changes in the judicial system were being rushed through or why they were needed immediately. We have not had the opportunity to test the changes. Whenever we got into the nitty-gritty of the Bill, the Tánaiste backed down and made amendments.

It is the 11th hour, but half of the Bill remains to be debated on Report Stage. We did not deal with all of the Bill on Committee Stage or when it was recommitted, so short was the time available. Major elements in the Bill should not be present, but we should have had the opportunity to debate the substantial changes in the judicial system, including those relating to sentencing and the terms of detention.

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