Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Yes, I acknowledge he is a very fit man. However, a much more worrying aspect of Mr. Murray's contribution to the aforementioned programme is the issue raised by Deputy Charles Flanagan regarding his remarks on practitioners of the law and what they might be engaged in with regard to criminals. That matter certainly requires a response.

I have not heard anything thus far from either the Minister or anyone else in support of this legislation to suggest there is hard evidence of intimidation or that if there is, that the power of the Director of Public Prosecutions to refer cases to the Special Criminal Court is not adequate to deal with the issue. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform should tell Members who has raised this issue. He should outline what specific cases have been raised by anyone in Limerick or anywhere else regarding the intimidation or possible intimidation of juries. Moreover, if hard facts exist, he should state whether they have been brought to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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