Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As a member of the Rural Independent Group, I find it very interesting to talk about this matter. Any Bill that can provide for the introduction of hearings to reduce interruptions to and delays in criminal trials must be welcomed. I am sure we have all served at some time on juries and we must realise the amount of time that can be wasted twiddling one's thumbs waiting for the legalities. Other Deputies have mentioned that self-employed people can be left waiting for a week or two. Therefore, I welcome any measure that will address this.

All victims can be spared stressful and painful delays in waiting for court proceedings. Accommodations can be made for victims in advance of trials. If this leads to the improved operation of criminal trials and benefits systems for victims, witnesses, juries and gardaí, it has to be appreciated.

I welcome the efficient administration of justice but I am concerned that there are almost 1,000 bench warrants outstanding for Limerick. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the Twenty-six Counties, there are many more warrants outstanding. I have asked the Minister a parliamentary question on this with a view to highlighting the bench warrants issue that arises throughout the country.

Previous speakers mentioned the Garda. There are investigations into the Garda in various areas. Are some of these investigations related to the system and the training gardaí received over the years? A garda of my age - I am 50 - received training in a different era. At the time, one would have heard people using terms like "square" and "L7". Many times when gardaí were doing their job, they had to work on their own initiative based on the training they were given. While the legal system is changing for the better, we must acknowledge that part of the training of gardaí over many years was carried out in a way that was different from today. It was in different times. We have to be cognisant of this. We all want a fair and transparent Garda service and a fair and transparent Courts Service, and we want to make sure criminals are brought to justice quickly and on time and that the cases of people who have suffered at the hands of criminals are dealt with efficiently, but we must also examine the mistakes that were made over the years in the training of gardaí. I ask the Minister to look back and talk to high-ranking serving and retired gardaí between the ages of 50 and 70. I ask her to examine the various training regimes so we can improve. It is getting better but it is a work in progress.

I welcome this Bill and what it will do. It is another step forward in dealing with criminals in this country. It will send a clear message to people involved in criminal activity that we will be able to deal with them quickly and efficiently but we need to put the resources in place to make sure this can happen. What I am asking for is that in current investigations, we account for the errors made in training in the past. We are aware that there are live and ongoing investigations in An Garda Síochána but we must be realistic and ask whether the actions of gardaí were based on the training they received and whether that was the way particular matters were dealt with at the time.

The system has to change and is changing. I welcome that. In the context of the investigations to which I refer, I ask people to look at the era to which they relate. I support the Bill 100% and I will be voting in favour of it.

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