Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

When speaking about crime it is easy to blame the Judiciary, which is why I support Senator O'Toole. Politicians do not have a role after the Judiciary has made decisions. In this context, I remind the House of a time when most politicians were troubled by people with road fines and other such issues. They approached politicians to write to the Minister of the day to request him or her to examine the situation. Often, it took up to two or three years for it to be processed. The person involved could show the letter at the local Garda station as evidence of a petition to the Minister. A judge in the west did politicians a huge favour when he criticised those who got involved in such decisions. As a result, the then Minister for Justice, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, wrote to all politicians informing them that such an approach would no longer be countenanced. In unique situations the persons concerned could directly petition the Minister themselves. The Minister and the judge in question did us all a service on that occasion so I support Senator O'Toole's statement about our becoming involved in the decisions of the Judiciary. It is not right.