Legislation against organised crime
Bernard Durkan urges accelerated bail, courts and proceeds-of-crime legislation to combat organised crime. The Taoiseach gives differing timetables, with courts legislation progressing and the other Bills still under preparation.
In view of the revelations in a recent television programme on organised crime, would it be possible to focus on key proposed Bills in order to combat the growth in activity by criminal gangs over the past ten years? I am referring to the bail Bill, the Courts Bill and the proceeds of crime Bill. Particular emphasis might be placed on introducing a cocktail of those Bills before the House in early course. Some of the Bills have been inherited from our good friends on the Opposition benches, and were engaged in a long gestation period while they were in government. It might be possible to focus on them now with a view to dealing seriously with organised criminal activities.
Comment on this
The Courts Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad and, later this year, the consolidated courts Bill will come before the House. As regards the proceeds of crime Bill, discussions are still ongoing with the Criminal Assets Bureau. I do not have a date for publication of the bail Bill, but it will be later this year or early next year.
