Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is merit in the amendment. When we saw the judgment of the High Court, there was a need to move speedily to resolve that issue. The Minister's actions are to be commended in that regard, but it gives us the opportunity to see who is actually presenting cases. Many summary decisions are being made in a court of first instance but experience is important in presenting a case. I had the pleasure of visiting the Garda Training College in Templemore and I know there are specific training modules for presenting a case. It seems, however, that like everything else, there is a knack and a specialty to presenting cases. It would probably require a specialist approach, rather than a more haphazard approach. Whether confining it to a particular rank will meet that requirement, I do not know. It seems it is probably not a job for somebody who is newly minted as a garda, but for someone who has some experience of the courts operate in order that prosecution cases are properly presented, even at this level. There is merit in the amendment being put forward.

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