Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I have with me the newspaper report which quotes the DPP, the date of which is 23 October last. It would be interesting to hear from the Taoiseach what is the date of his latest information from the DPP. The DPP explained it, stating that three years ago the Garda Síochána Act 2005 transferred prosecution functions of the Garda to the DPP and the idea was that it would free up the gardaí to catch criminals. Everybody knew this. In District Court cases gardaí could often be hanging around and waiting for a relatively small case to come up while among themselves lawyers arranged postponements and adjournments. The gardaí could have been out doing their job. This was the problem and the job was given to the DPP. The DPP is now stating that because of the 3% cut he must hand back these prosecution cases to the Garda. The Taoiseach should answer Deputy Kenny's question on what is his latest information from the DPP. Will the Taoiseach assure the House that the DPP will not hand back to the Garda Síochána prosecution cases in the District Courts?

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