Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In such circumstances, the State in question has failed to deal with issues like jury intimidation and witness protection. If we are serious about dealing with organised criminal gangs, we must put resources in place. For example, we should not be closing rural Garda stations. The Minister will say that this is just one aspect of the matter. However, if we are serious about tackling organised crime, we must ensure financial resources are invested in front-line services and manpower. If this means that the public service recruitment embargo has to be lifted, so be it.

I have no doubt that people involved in organised criminal activity see the introduction of legislation to ensure they are tried before a special court as an admission of failure. In other words, it means the State has failed to provide protections and safeguards to people who serve on juries. However, the Special Criminal Court is the wrong way to go. This is not to flippantly disregard the activities of the criminal gangs. We understand that they cause misery and hardship. We know they destroy whole communities, murder, maim and have no regard for law and order. However, if we examine best international practice, we see that other countries have found more effective ways of dealing with organised criminal gangs that do not involve draconian institutions like the Special Criminal Court. There are better ways of dealing with this issue that do not contravene basic human rights such as the right to a trial by jury and which are far more effective in the real and ideological struggle against organised crime. Ar an mbunús sin, beidh muid ag cur i gcoinne an leasú áirithe seo agus beidh muid ag brú vóta ar an gceist.