Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Does the Minister agree that the reduction in the length of time spent on bail would help minimise opportunities to offend while on bail? From that point of view, proper resourcing of the justice system, the courts, the DPP, the forensic lab and the free legal aid service, in particular, would go a long way. With that in mind, will the Minister give us an update on the new State forensic lab? Currently, delays with results from the forensic lab cause huge problems with court cases and on occasion it can take up to 18 months before a case can come to trial. If someone was denied bail in such a case, the time in custody would be the equivalent of a three-year sentence.

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