Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Figures were released this morning to our justice spokesperson, Deputy Carthy, that make for very shocking reading. They reveal that suspects in 40,348 crimes carried out in 2024 were out on bail. This is an issue we have raised repeatedly with the Government, and I am raising it again this morning. The 2024 figure represented an increase of 5,000 on the figure for 2022. Astonishingly, the combined figure for the past three years for suspects implicated in crime while out on bail amounted to 114,655. This situation cannot continue. The public will not tolerate a situation whereby people out on bail are at liberty to reoffend again and again. The bail laws need to be examined with urgency to ensure they are being properly applied.

When will the Government finally acknowledge and get on top of this issue?

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