Helen McEntee

The Criminal Procedure Bill 2021, developed in consultation with the Courts Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions, will implement a recommendation raised in successive reports into the conduct of criminal trials in the State.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “The introduction of preliminary trial hearings will allow the courts to address certain matters before the start of a trial and will minimise the number of interruptions while the trial is ongoing.

“This will improve the efficiency of the trial process when it begins and also reduce negative impacts that delays and interruptions have on victims, witnesses, defendants and jury members.”

Preliminary trial hearings aim to mitigate the negative impact on all parties and jurors of trials not proceeding as planned or being subject to multiple interruptions.

Ms McEntee said: “The introduction of preliminary trial hearings will create a more victim-centred approach where notice will be given of any sensitive legal approaches that may be taken at trial.

“While we can’t take away the fact that a trial is an adversarial process, that an accused person is entitled to defend themselves robustly and that events can unfold in unexpected ways, the introduction of preliminary trial hearings should make trials more predictable, more efficient, and proceed with less interruptions.

“I look forward to now presenting the bill to the Seanad and to positively engaging with my colleagues there with a view to progressing it as swiftly as possible.”