Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Having been a member of the justice committee the Minister of State will be aware of the volume of legislation with which it deals. He will also be aware of the volume of its work programme. As such, the possibility of this issue being examined by it in any detail in the short term is probably very limited. We need to put what is proposed into the legislation rather than put the onus on an Oireachtas committee to produce a report, which will then go to the Minister, following which he or she will decide to agree or disagree with the recommendations and bring forward a proposal. To do that is to long-finger the issue. I do not agree with that. As I said, this goes to the very heart of what we are trying to do in regard to our bail laws. A system of bail supports is necessary, as has been proven. All of the international research suggests that jurisdictions that have bail supports have a far better criminal justice system.

I am asking the Government for once to take responsibility for a job that can be done in a short timeframe and can be done as part of the statutory review in relation to this legislation. I ask the Minister of State to accept these amendments. I intend to push my amendment to a vote.

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