Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is already the case that electronic monitoring will only be imposed for serious offences to monitor a condition of bail which must itself be proportionate and necessary where the prosecution applies for it. That is in circumstances where the Garda believes it would be effective in preventing breaches of bail conditions. It has to be with the consent of the person being monitored and it only applies to adults. There are already sufficient safeguards in place to ensure electronic monitoring will only be used where it is essential and appropriate having regard to the individual offences and to the particular circumstances of the case. I do not agree the additional conditions contained in the amendment are necessary or helpful.

On a technical note, amendment No. 3 refers to section 6B of the Act. It should refer to section 6B of the 1997 Act. As such, it is not inserted into the Bail Act 1997 and could not be implemented in its current form. That is just a technical point.

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