Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It is my intention to introduce a further amendment on Report Stage. As the House is aware, it is the Government's intention to establish a second Special Criminal Court. That is being done with a view to ensuring that people awaiting trial would not face lengthy delays. The establishment of two such courts means that the trial of offences will be speeded up. It will no longer be a matter of one court dealing with cases in a linear way, one after another. I want to have a situation whereby if somebody is sent to one court they can be sent to the other court so that the load can be shared. I am advised that I need a statutory amendment to bring that about. It was my intention to do so on Committee Stage but I will now have to do it on Report Stage because the wording of the amendment has run into a bit of trouble. Under the procedure of the House, I have to mention it at this point.