Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Prendergast, Norris, O'Donovan, Regan, Coffey, Bacik, Hanafin and Walsh all expressed their views on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill. I want to assure the House that the Bill will not be guillotined in any shape or form. I will consult with the party leaders in this House at our usual weekly meeting to see what time is required. I will allow the longest possible time that is required so we can debate all sections of the Bill. As I have often said, the fear has got to be in the law, yet the fear does not seem be in the law at present.

I congratulate the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, for his utterances in the Dáil last week which were relayed to the nation via "The Week in Politics" programme. I also note the comments of the Limerick State Solicitor on the same programme. Senator O'Donovan, who is an eminent lawyer, gave the House the benefit of his experience of journalists who are under death threats. This urgent legislation is needed and Senators on both sides of the House have a responsibility-----