John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when Section 185 of the new Criminal Justice Act 2006 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34034/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 came into effect on 1 August 2006, in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act 2006 (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 390 of 2006).

Section 185 amends section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 in order to extend the existing offences of assaulting or obstructing peace officers to other workers including ambulance and fire brigade members and those providing medical services at or in a hospital. In doing so it recognises the special demands of acting in an emergency situation and provides explicit statutory protection for this essential group of workers and those assisting them.