Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I considered it, and my concern is that the proposed amendment is seeking to merge and align community service and probation. The Deputy knows they are different statutory regimes. The Probation of Offenders Act deals with a court being able to dispose of a summary offence either by dismissing the charge or by discharging the offender conditionally. Obviously, community service is something different. Having given it consideration, I thought the way the amendment was drafted was merging those two schemes inappropriately. They are distinct. I identify the objective of what the Deputy is doing, and I have no difficulty working with him in the future on proposals to ensure we have schemes in place in respect of community service and community sanctions. The Deputy also knows there are a lot of provisions in this Bill that deal with that, but I cannot accept the amendment.

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Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-10