Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach accept there is growing concern within wider society at the level of crimes committed by persons on bail and that there has to be a direct relationship between the resourcing of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and this very worrying statistic? Does the Taoiseach accept that rather than the argument of creating further restrictions on the right to bail, the key address of this must be to facilitate a speedier processing of all the required preparations from the decision to prosecute to trial? Does he accept that we need to see the period of bail shortened significantly to ensure that there is less prospect of a continuation of the extent of recidivism that is currently demonstrating itself?

Does the Taoiseach not accept, given that the DPP, Mr. James Hamilton, has stated this means fewer prosecutions will be undertaken, that this 3% reduction in the budget of the office runs directly contrary to the stated objective I have just recounted? Does the Taoiseach not accept that in these times of very obvious crime and given the extent of serious crimes, including murder, that are being carried out by people while on bail, further investment and resourcing is what is needed rather than a reduction in the DPP's budget? Does the Taoiseach not accept there are far less damaging areas for savings to be made within the overall outlay on the justice system, which, for example, could include tighter regulation of legal fees and costs?

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