A decision by the Department of Justice to bring emergency legislation through the Dáil next week to deal with a loophole in the bail law has prompted the accusation that the Government is both arrogant and incompetent. Stephen Collins, Political Editor, reports.
The Fine Gael spokesman on justice, Charlie Flanagan, said yesterday that the latest legislative crisis has arisen because the Government got it wrong when it rammed the Criminal Justice Act through the Dáil before the election without proper debate or scrutiny.
The legislation is required to clarify the status of designated persons who may take recognisances - or monetary bonds - from persons appealing criminal law cases.
The Criminal Justice Act inadvertently removed the ability of prison governors to accept recognisances from prisoners who want to appeal their case to a higher court.