Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

To take All Stages of a Bill on any particular day, as the Leader purported to do yesterday in respect of two Bills, is unacceptable. I note that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006, important reforming legislation which was first initiated in 2006, has been removed from today's Order of Business. Will the Leader clarify whether we are to deal with All Stages of that Bill tomorrow? To conduct business in this manner is very unsatisfactory.

In regard to the Bill we are scheduled, mar dhea, to debate next week, the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009, the main criticism raised by a group of barristers in an article in The Irish Times today is that there has not been sufficient time for proper debate. The introduction of this legislation is an admission of failure by the Government and acknowledgement that the law and order situation is out of control. Instead of the zero tolerance we were promised, we have anarchy. The Government has failed to protect citizens from organised criminal gangs and the wilful killing of innocent people. The legislation is an admission of failure in this regard.

One of the central concerns regarding the Bill is its impact on the right to trial by jury. The principle is established that the Director of Public Prosecutions may apply to initiate trial by the Central Criminal Court. While the principle is established, we need to ensure the legislation is correct. As to the issue of trial by jury, there is a precedent in the United Kingdom and the rest of the European Union. The procedure is in place but we need time to properly debate and scrutinise the legislation to ensure it works.