Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 14:

In page 22, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:

"(b) Where a judge makes a direction or exclusion under paragraph (a), he or she shall direct that proceedings of the application are recorded by an official stenographer.".

This amendment provides a safeguard in respect of in camera hearings on the extension of periods of detention of suspects. Where a judge makes a direction or exclusion under this section, he or she shall direct that proceedings of the application be recorded by an official stenographer. It would be a minimalist precaution to create a record of such a hearing and an important safeguard in terms of the legitimacy of not carrying out the hearing in public. Given the constitutional requirement that justice be administered in open court, this amendment is the minimal amount of precaution that should be included in this rather novel provision in the Bill for persons to be excluded from the court. I commend the amendment to the House.