Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

For many weeks before the general election last year, the House debated the Criminal Justice Act 2007 in response to the then serious crime and violence situation, which has since escalated substantially. The Act was described by the Government, of which the Tánaiste was a member, as being the most draconian response to crime ever. Is the Tánaiste aware that fewer than half of the Act's sections have been the subject of commencement orders? In light of this and given that the Government appeared tough on crime by enacting criminal legislation described by it as "draconian" and unprecedented, does he agree there is an element of deception? Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to sign the commencement orders to bring the Act into force? It is meaningless without such orders.

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