Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is intended to introduce special criminal courts with a view to eliminating witness intimidation, confronting serious and violent criminals and protecting the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9243/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Provision already exists for the forwarding for trial in the Special Criminal Court (SCC) of persons accused of both scheduled and non-scheduled offences.

In the case of scheduled offences which are also indictable offences, such persons shall be returned for trial to the SCC unless the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) otherwise directs. In the case of non-scheduled offences, such persons can be returned for trial to the SCC upon direction of the DPP. The SCC has already been used in a number of serious non-paramilitary cases. Issues relating to the operation of the SCC in such circumstances are kept under review.