Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I raised this issue yesterday morning because 100 legal professionals wrote to The Irish Times expressing their concern about the possible constitutionality issue to the effect that Ireland might be shamed in the international arena as a result of the passage of the legislation, were it to be passed as presently constituted. My concern is similar to that of other speakers. The purpose of this exercise is to put seasoned, hardened and organised criminals behind bars and to protect society. I again ask the Tánaiste whether any effort has been made since yesterday, and in view of the points raised by other speakers, to be assured that from a constitutional perspective, the proposed legislation is fair, well tested and will stand any contest anywhere. If this fails, the worst possible outcome then will be that those hardened criminals who have been terrorising people in recent years will be given a type of approval.

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