Fitzgerald reiterates pledge to implement tighter bail rules for repeat offenders

Acting Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has reiterated a pledge to implement tighter bail rules during a Dáil statement on crime.

Ms Fitzgerald said gardaí had been assisted in fighting burglaries by the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of a Dwelling) Act and introduction of the new Burglary Act, which makes it easier for courts to refuse bail for repeat burglars.

She continued: “Next, we will enact our new Bail Bill to protect the public against crimes committed by offenders out on bail.

“This bill will allow for refusal of bail for repeat serious offenders and will strengthen Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail.

“It will also include new provisions to allow for electronic tagging of those on bail, where requested by Gardaí, to reduce re-offending.”

Speaking in the Dáil, she also defended the use of the juryless Special Criminal Court in organised crime cases, as provided by special provisions of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009.

She said: “I very much regret that some parties in this House continue to vote annually against the renewal of some of these special provisions and, furthermore, persist in calling for the abolition of the Special Criminal Court.

“I recently signed the rules of court as the final step necessary to establish a second Special Criminal Court, so that we can start dealing with the current backlog of cases.

“Given the existence of violent criminals who will stop at nothing in pursuit of their evil objectives, including intimidation of jurors and witnesses, it is clear that the Special Criminal Court must remain as an essential element in our anti-crime infrastructure.”