Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I suspect I will need to speak again when the debate resumes after Private Members' business.

It is unsatisfactory that the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, which is due to meet tomorrow morning, is this evening being asked to deal with amendments to important legislation. I note from the Minister of State's contribution that the proposed amendments are in respect of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. I do not propose to deal with the substance of the amendments now because that matter can be dealt with in committee. Notwithstanding that, there should be a more coherent way for us to do our business. This important legislation. An amendment to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 should have been dealt with in the orthodox way. Notwithstanding that, I recognise the Government wants to insert a form of urgency into this matter. This urgency has not been explained as this matter has been an issue for very many years. It is clear that when gardaí are taking into Garda stations individuals who are very intoxicated and a threat to themselves and others they do so not without the protection of any particular law but because of an àla cartesystem that appears to have operated over the years.

The Government should explain the reason this motion has been introduced with such urgency. While I am happy to deal with the matter, I wish to record my party's dissatisfaction in regard to this particular issue. We will deal with the substance of the matter tomorrow. My party will not oppose the motion as we are trying to have this matter dealt with promptly.

See this speech in context