Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 8, to delete lines 1 to 7 and substitute the following: “(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the trial court shall, where—

(a) an accused is charged with a relevant offence, and

(b) the prosecution or the accused makes an application to the court for a preliminary trial hearing to be held,

hold such a preliminary trial hearing.”.

This amendment is essentially technical in nature. I do not know whether the Minister of State is minded to accept it. The question behind the amendment was, to a great extent, answered by the Minister on Second Stage. I was concerned that the provisions of section 6(2)(c) would prevent the holding of a second preliminary hearing. That was addressed by the Minister on Second Stage and I am happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.