Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I agree very much with the previous speaker on the idea that we can, without a full evidence-based debate in the House, state the ordinary courts are not working and are not adequate and that we must continue and endorse the Offences Against the State Act. As a new Deputy speaking to a new Minister, I have to say in earnest it is a high and tall ask of us and of many other people in the House. There is no evidence-based reason for the continuation of this aged legislation, which was introduced at a time the State could have argued there was a threat of terrorism against it. That does not exist now, and to continue it is to undermine the existence of the criminal courts. If the criminal courts cannot adequately deal with the threat of crime, then they need to be looked at and the system needs to be looked at, rather than maintaining an Offences Against the State Act which was introduced for different purposes from what the Minister argues it should be used for now. There is not the crisis or emergency that would justify us continuing it. I support the idea that endorsing it again this evening is absolutely wrong. It does not do justice to the Minister as a new Minister, to me as a new Deputy or to anybody else in the House to endorse it willy-nilly, rubber-stamp it and let it continue as it always has done. It needs full scrutiny and proper debate. Therefore, I argue for a vote against it.

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