Criminal Justice Bill Passed In The Dáil

The final stages of the Criminal Justice Bill were passed in the Dáil, last night, by a vote of 62 to 11. The bill was opposed by Sinn Féin, the Greens and a number of Independents, while Fine Gael and Labour abstained.

Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell originally intended to have the Criminal Justice Bill passed into law before the Dáil’s Easter recess but he bowed to Opposition demands for more time to debate some of its more controversial aspects.

It has now passed its final stages in the Dáil and will be debated in the Seanad, where it should conclude by Friday.

As the debate came to an end, Brendan Howlin of Labour said that very significant changes had been accepted by the Tánaiste during its scrutiny by the Dáil, but that provisions for seven days detention for questioning had never even been discussed.

A vote was called for by Aengus Ó Snodaigh of Sinn Féin, who had contributed to the debate, and by Ciarán Cuffe of the Greens, who had arrived into the chamber just before its conclusion.

With Fine Gael and Labour abstaining, the Criminal Justice Bill  was easily passed.