Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. This Bill, which has Fine Gael's support, is designed to modernise and improve efficiency in the courts. It has been necessitated by the need to ensure the new Criminal Courts of Justice complex operates effectively and functions appropriately. The building of the aforementioned complex is a wonderful development and will be beneficial for the court system and for court efficiencies. The Courts Service has done wonderful work in modernising the court system since its establishment. This complex will deal with all central Dublin criminal business, including that pertaining to the District and Circuit Court, as well as the Central Criminal Court, the Special Criminal Court and the Court of Criminal Appeal. This is to be welcomed.

The Bill underpins a streamlined management procedure for this complex. In so far as the Irish Prison Service will be given responsibility for managing the central holding facility for people in custody and will have control over all persons held there, including those who have not been committed to prison by the courts, it will help to free Garda time for other operational duties and will avoid duplication. The establishment of a holding area officer also is welcome and the designation of a single administrative office rather than an office for each court jurisdiction is appropriate.

I note the miscellaneous provision regarding the taking of recognisances by the District Court clerk in certain instances. I wonder whether this proposal has been thought through and how it would operate in practice in a busy court in which a judge makes orders in respect of bail and recognisance. There is much business to be conducted in the court and I wonder whether, if there is a handing up to the clerk of a recognisance in the court, it would slow down the court's business. For example, if anything interferes with the flow of business in the Bridewell court, it can slow down the process. The determination of bail in respect of ascertaining who will provide the recognisance and what member of the family will provide the money takes time. I appreciate this measure has been introduced to facilitate the process but I wonder whether it will do so in practice.

The Minister of State has mentioned that he proposes to table an amendment on Committee Stage and I reserve my position on it. However, in many ways this is a straightforward Bill. Its theme is efficiency and it is designed to facilitate the new criminal court complex. Fine Gael is fully supportive of the Bill. I reserve my position in respect of some minor amendments which may be relevant to ensuring the object of the legislation is achieved but otherwise I commend the Bill to the House.