Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach not believe that it would be a useful exercise to inform himself and Members of the House of the factual situation regarding the cost to communities and the economy of serious, repeat offences by people already on bail, which occur on a frequent basis? I argue for the right to bail, but the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions does not have sufficient resources and there is a long, inordinate delay in moving from the decision to prosecute to the trial. This is a very serious problem. Examining the 3% cost in terms of the immediate saving is a simple book-keeping exercise. However, we should consider it in a more holistic way and examine the real cost. I believe it is arguable, and the facts will sustain the case I am making, that if we were to examine the real cost of what is occurring, further investment rather than a reduction in payroll allocation to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would yield a much more significant overall saving. Such a saving would be apart from the cost of great human misery that is brought to individuals' families and communities by the actions of certain people.

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