Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Dowd reminded us of a number of occasions where the Special Criminal Court has served this State well. I believe the Special Criminal Court continues to have an important role to play for the reasons I outlined. I again thank the review group. This is a comprehensive body of work - two years worth of work. There was an opportunity for significant civic society input for submissions. A very esteemed group of people considered these matters in great detail.

It is my intention to bring the review to Government in the first instance in June and that it will be published ahead of the vote in this House on the resolutions to continue to renew. I should also say that this report will take time to digest and to decide the course of action. What is clear and does not require any time is the need to renew the resolutions this June. The clear security advice as Minister for Justice is that there continues to be an important role for the Special Criminal Court to play for all the reasons I outlined such as the continuing threat from dissidents, international terrorism and organised crime gangs. I believe the Special Criminal Court and the offence provisions need to be reviewed in this House next month.

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