Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I wish to reply to the accusation that there is a creeping move towards longer periods of detention. It had been suggested that in the context of the legislation we should consider longer periods of detention but I resisted those calls because I believe seven days is sufficient. When one considers the figures it is quite clear that under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act that for the two-year period November 2006 to November 2008 the number of people detained for long periods was kept to a minimum. A total of 821 people, 47.98%, were detained for periods of detention up to six hours. A total of 664 people, 38.81%, were detained for between six hours and 24 hours. A total of 208 people, 12.16%, were detained for between 24 hours and 48 hours. A total of 15 people, 0.88%, were detained for between 48 hours and 120 hours and three people or 0.18% were detained for between 120 hours and 168 hours. It is evident from those figures that only 18 people in two years were affected by the extension of the period of detention to 120 hours or 168 hours. Despite what Senator Bacik said, it is obvious the power of detention has been used very sparingly.