Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Telephone number details should not be given out. There could be circumstances where addresses could be given out. Deputy Rabbitte and others represent constituencies where there have been instances of intimidation of people going for jury service. Some of us in the House have been aware of instances where people have been intimidated. There may be circumstances where people defending a defendant may need to know that a neighbour or people living in the immediate vicinity of the defendant are not on a jury for good and valid reasons.

The type of detail and information which should be made available is being looked at very carefully by the Law Reform Commission and I will take whatever action is necessary on the matter. My understanding is there is an obligation to give a copy of the panel to the defendant or his or her representatives. It must be available for inspection so that challenges, including seven challenges without reason, can be made.

It is necessary to have some background knowledge on jurors but there is a very fine balance. The concept of a jury is that people should be representative of the wider public if somebody is to be convicted, or not, by a jury of peers. Although the Deputy might not be asking about intimidation, the intimation is that intimidation is ongoing. That is in stark contrast to what was said to me when the House was considering criminal justice legislation and I was trying to take out the possibility of jury trials for certain offences because intimidation was a possibility. I know the Deputy does not want to hear this but people said I was only bringing in the measure for the sake of it. We were aware-----

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