Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage
Dail Éireann — 2020-09-03
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Danny Healy-Rae (IND), Kerry

I will. I am sorry, but I am cross with what is going on and what is being attempted in Dáil Éireann today. I am suggesting that if the crime is so serious and a garda, on the instructions of the Minister, says that the rule is broken in such a fashion, there should be a court organised immediately and the defendant, the publican in this case, should be given a chance to defend himself and to present his story as he sees it. Sometimes, when someone arrives on the scene, he may react in a different way from how he would have reacted if he was there for a half an hour or an hour beforehand or if he was there before what was deemed to be an offence occurred.
This is totally and absolutely wrong. I will be supporting Deputy Howlin's amendment to the extent that I believe the whole thing is wrong. However, Deputy Howlin's suggestion that it would be up to the publican to demand a court hearing amounts to putting the cart before the horse again. I call on him to consider that. I appreciate the good work and attention that Deputy Howlin is giving to this Bill.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2020-09-03/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-09-03