Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

3:00 pm

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The purpose of this amendment is to add three offences of a terrorist nature to the Schedule. The Schedule lists the offences in respect of which the DPP may seek to quash an acquittal and seek a retrial on the basis of new and compelling evidence. The threshold for the inclusion of offences in the Schedule is that a maximum sentence of life imprisonment applies on conviction with the exception of the offences under section 7 and section 8 of the International Criminal Court Act 2006 — genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ancillary crimes. In some limited circumstances, a person convicted of an offence under section 7 or section 8 is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 years rather than life imprisonment. The three offences I propose to add to the Schedule attract maximum sentences of life imprisonment. I believe their inclusion is appropriate.

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