John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment my party colleague, Senator Ivana Bacik, on her proposal yesterday for a new initiative of a purple flag area which would indicate a crime free zone in an urban area. It is a great idea and we should fully support it. I would like to take it a step further in an effort to outlaw crime in the country. It is time we had a debate in the House on the availability to serial criminals of free legal aid. The people of the country are absolutely outraged that serial criminals can commit assault after assault, robbery after robbery and even murder and still continue to receive free legal aid paid for by the Exchequer. This needs to be addressed. I know of many cases, including a recent case where a man received free legal aid on 16 occasions. The people I speak to suggest that one should be able to avail of free legal aid once in a lifetime. At the very minimum it should be a case of three strikes and one is out. It is a debate worthy of the House. Many of my colleagues who have a legal background will not agree with me-----