Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The new section 31, in subsection (1), provides power of arrest of suspected offenders, without warrant, for the Garda and authorised persons who are commissioned naval officers of the Defence Forces. Subsection (2) extends the power of arrest of suspected offenders, without warrant, to the person in command or in charge of a vessel or a person authorised by him or by her or the owner or hirer of the vessel, provided that the arrest is made by a person in uniform who is suitably trained for the purpose. Subsection (3) obliges an arresting person other than a garda to hand the arrested person over to a member of the Garda Síochána as soon as possible to be dealt with according to law.