Ivana Bacik (Independent)

My opposition to section 7 relates to subsections (1), (2) and (3) of the proposed new section 71B. The fundamental premise is that the opinion of a garda will constitute evidence as to the existence of a particular criminal organisation. I do not have the same objections regarding subsections (4) and (5) of the proposed new section. The fundamental premise of the first three subsections is to create a provision for so-called extra evidence. I object to this because there are other ways of proving the existence of a criminal organisation, as in subsections (4) and (5).