PROPOSALS TO reform the bail laws would be considered by the Government in a few weeks, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said.

Work was continuing “to consolidate and update the bail laws with a view to presenting a clear, accessible and modern statement of law”.

The Minister said that in the context of that modernisation of the law, he would seek to restructure it to enable it have a focus on the protection of the individual and the public. He added that he would have to be conscious of the likely effect on prison accommodation which was under pressure.

Fianna Fáil spokesman Dara Calleary said he welcomed the Minister’s commitment to bring forward new proposals and was conscious of the difficulties relating to prison accommodation.

In planning prison accommodation, he said, consideration should be given to restricting bail for murder, manslaughter, sexual and personal assault or where the possibility arose that witnesses were being intimidated. He described the murder of a relative, sibling or spouse as a dreadful experience. “But if the offender is supposed to be in custody for another offence it must appear to the relatives that the State has failed in its duty of protection,” Mr Calleary added.