445 / 736
accommodation for the Dublin Circuit Court but
the Minister's department did not consider it
necessary and,
therefore, did not avail of the
offer?
Mr. Moran: That is not correct. Portion of a
building was offered while another portion was
retained. The portion that was offered was offered
at at fantastic price which could not be enter
tained by my Department.
DAIL EIREANN
12th February, 1970
Dublin Court Lists
Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the
number of criminal cases now awaiting hearing in
the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ; and when the
accused persons most recently returned for trial is
likely to have his case heard ; the number of Cir
cuit Court Judges assigned to deal with criminal
cases in that Court area ; and what steps will be
taken to expedite hearings.
37. Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the
number of civil cases in respect of which notices of
trial have been issued in the Dublin Circuit Court;
when it is estimated the Court will hear the case
most recently listed for hearing; the number of
Circuit Court Judges assigend to deal with civil
cases in that Court; and what steps will be taken
to expedite hearings.
Mr. Moran: I propose with your permission, a
Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions No. 36 and
No. 37 together.
An accused person returned for trial in the
Dublin Circuit Court will, if he is in custody, nor
mally have his case heard in the term in which he
is returned for trial. If the accused is on bail, there
is at present a delay of about 14 months.
Notices of trial have been issued in 327 civil
cases, and the case most recently set down will be
reached in three to four months.
At present, the President of the Circuit Court
has assigned two Judges to criminal trials, and two
Judges to civil business and criminal appeals.
For the other information sought by the Deputy,
I must refer him to my reply to a similar question
yesterday.
19th February, 1970
Offences on Bail
Dr. FitzGerald asked the Minister for Justice
how many persons have been
convicted for
offences committed out on bail in each of the past
three years ; and in how many of these cases bail
had been opposed.
Mr. Moran: Statistics are not available in the
form sought by the Deputy. However an inquiry
conducted by
the Garda Authorities in June,
1968, showed that 183 persons who were granted
bail by the courts committed 580 fresh offences
against property during the 12 months ended 30th
September, 1967. Of these persons, 37 committed
crimes while on bail. These figures cover crimes
where the Garda were satisfied as to the identity
of the culprits but may not have been in a position
to produce proofs leading to conviction in court.
In the following year the corresponding figures
were 214 persons who committed 921 crimes while
on bail. Of these persons, 60 committed five or
more crimes. The results of a similar inquiry for
the year ended 30th September, 1969, are not yet
avialable. I shall communicate the relevant figures
to the Deputy in due course.
As I have already pointed out in the House,
there is conclusive evidence that a considerable
number of offences are committed by persons while
on bail. The situation has worsened since the
Supreme Court judgment in the O'Callaghan case
half-way through the 1967 crime year. In this judg
ment, the court, in effect, held that bail might be
refused only where the accused was likely to flee
the jurisdiction or to interfere with prosecution
witnesses, and should not be refused merely be
cause the accused would be likely to commit
further offences while on bail.
1 might add that following the O'Callaghan
judgment any figures relating to cases in which the
grant of bail was opposed would have little mean
ing. The grant of bail may be opposed by the State
only where there is evidence to bring the case
within the O'Callaghan decision.
Mr. Tully: Is the Minister thinking of changing
the law ?
Mr. Moran: Yes> and I have the authority of
the Government to do so.
Reddundancy Payments Act
Mr. Tully asked the Minister for Labour when
the proposed Bill to amend the Redundancy Pay
ments Act, 1967. referred to in his statement on
1st October, 1969, will be published.
Minister for Labour (Mr. J. Brennan): The
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