asked the Minister for Justice when the complaints procedure for Garda Síochána as provided for the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, will be introduced; and the date it will be implemented.

2.

asked the Minister for Justice if the change in the law in the Criminal Justice Bill allowing for consecutive sentences to be imposed on those who commit crimes whilst out on bail could be implemented separately whilst delay in setting up the independent tribunal to coincide with the coming into force of the Criminal Justice Bill takes its course; and when it is proposed to have this tribunal set up.

3.

asked the Minister for Justice in view of the number of crimes being committed by people on bail, if he will review the present legislation and introduce the necessary legislative changes to improve this situation.

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 inclusive, together.

I hope to introduce the Bill establishing the complaints procedure in the Dáil during the present session.

The provision in the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, providing for consecutive sentences for offences committed while on bail has been in operation since 1 March 1985.

Two other important changes made by the Criminal Justice Act in relation to the law on bail have also been in effect since 1 March. First, to make the provision on consecutive sentences effective, so far as sentences passed in the District Court are concerned, the Act increased from 12 months to two years the aggregate term that a district justice can impose when passing two or more consecutive sentences. Second, the Act made absconding on bail an offence for the first time.

The three changes in question made by the Criminal Justice Act represent a very considerable tightening up of the law in the bail area. They have only been in operation for a very short time and it would be premature at this stage to consider further legislative changes.

I did not hear the relevant section of the Minister's reply. Did he indicate that the complaints procedure will be brought before the House in the present Dáil session?

(Limerick East): Yes.