Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I give qualified support to retaining the Special Criminal Court as it has been effective against subversive elements and organised criminal gangs. However, we should aim for a time when the court is no longer necessary as relying on it permanently would undermine the effectiveness of jury courts. There was a time when we needed this; obviously we can see that. However, the time has come now to reconsider because, thankfully, we have a ceasefire and a peace process which is supported by the vast majority of people. As I said, we disagree with the absolute position in some parts of this House that we must continue this court indefinitely. We slip into the habit of having it and it is an easy way of getting around things and whatever else.

That said, I would love to see some kind of a court set up in this country that would give justice to citizens and would take on some of the white-collar crime and some of the issues surrounding the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, and what it has done. I have asked parliamentary questions about this for an individual in Clonmel whose tax number is being used wrongly and he got an apology from Revenue. I need to see a people's redress. These things are simple. We roll them in every year and there is a need for them. However, we need a root-and-branch review of what is going on here and what went on with the National Asset Management Agency. I said it the night it was set up. Many lives have been wrecked and many people made a lot of profit out of it. When it goes so far as somebody's tax number being used wrongly by elements in NAMA, that is very serious and I have a lot of questions which I will ask at another time. I will hand over to my colleagues at this point.

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