President Mary McAleese last night signed the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 into law after a meeting of the Council of State that lasted over two hours. Deaglán de Bréadún, Political Correspondent, reports.
Mrs McAleese decided not to refer the Bill to the Supreme Court after meeting the Council of State at Áras an Uachtaráin to discuss the issue, as required under Article 26 of Bunreacht na hÉireann.
The meeting, which began at about 7.30pm, was expected to last an hour but did not conclude until 9.35pm. A total of 19 out of the 23 council members were in attendance.
This was only the 26th time that the council has been convened, and the fifth occasion during the current presidency.
Current office-holders who were present included Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tánaiste Michael McDowell, Chief Justice John Murray and Attorney General Rory Brady.
Former president Patrick Hillery and former taoisigh Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald also attended.
Personal appointees of the President who were there included Senator Martin Mansergh, Anastasia Crickley, Mary Davis and Col Harvey Bicker.
As Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell steered the Criminal Justice Bill through the Oireachtas but he was attending the Council of State in his capacity as Tánaiste.
The President is not obliged to accept council recommendations.
The Criminal Justice Act was one of the last pieces of legislation to pass through the 29th Dáil. It has come in for heavy criticism from civil libertarians and some barristers.
The 128-page Act broadens the categories of offences for which suspects may be detained for seven days, lays down mandatory 10-year sentences for certain drug-related crimes, introduces changes to the right to silence, revises bail provisions, brings in measures on electronic tagging and establishes a DNA database as part of the fight against criminality.
The Irish Human Rights Commission said the legislation presented "a danger of injustice" and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said there was "no evidence" the proposed legislation would assist in the fight against criminal gangs.
The Criminal Bar Association said the new law would damage Ireland's reputation internationally.