Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Obviously, I will not dispute the figures provided in reply to a parliamentary question. The Deputy stated that the total figure for warrants is approximately 111,000, including some 36,000 bench warrants. I regularly see figures relating to the number of people who evade warrants on a weekly basis, which is a very small number. With regard to the Deputy's figures, I do not know how the question was categorised and have not read the details. Nonetheless, many people who are called and do not turn up on a particular day, for one reason or another, will turn up within a very short period, perhaps the following day or week or at the next court sitting.

If I understand the Deputy's point, we want to know the actual figure for people who entirely evade the judicial system or criminal justice system and do not turn up when a warrant is issued. Some of the cases relate to people for whom a warrant was issued and they either forgot about it or were sick and could not attend court, but later turned up.

I am not sure if the reply to the parliamentary question details the actual figure over a given court session for people who have evaded the system. That is the key figure, and it is not 36,000. During the entire 30-year period of the Troubles in the North, the number of outstanding warrants relating to people who did not turn up was approximately 20 — some of their names are well known to gardaí. While I do not know the total figure for people who have evaded the system, I imagine it is small.

The Criminal Justice Act 2006 introduced a comprehensive package of measures enhancing the powers of the Garda with regard to improving the criminal justice system. Included in that legislation were the powers to deal with anyone who infringes on or evades the law in any circumstances. If I recall the debate on that Bill, the figure was not very significant. While I do not know the figure, it will be easy to get for the Deputy. As part of those powers, we broadened the range of sentences, provided for alternatives to custodial sentences and introduced restriction on movement orders and a new system of fixed charges for public order offences, particularly for reoffenders or those who tried to evade justice. We increased penalties relating to various categories of people who were ongoing offenders.

To answer the Deputy's question on what action we are taking, the Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007, with the DNA legislation which, if it is not before the House, will be published shortly, are measures which will deal with people who defy bench warrants or the law.

See this speech in context