Ardfheis will hear calls for tougher action on crime

A CALL for an anti crime plan to include the reform of the court system, a review of bail laws and sentencing and the establishment…

A CALL for an anti crime plan to include the reform of the court system, a review of bail laws and sentencing and the establishment of a "Metropolitan Garda Reserve" will be made at the Fine Gael Ardfheis next weekend.

A series of motions tabled for a debate on justice include calls to end the right to silence and to introduce identity cards.

The Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, will also be asked to prepare a graded schedule of fines and to examine other methods of collection, such as attachment orders. She will be pressed to extend the Community Garda Programme and to put more police on the streets.

Young Fine Gael in Dublin South East is also to ask the Government to immediately establish a drug free prison environment within our prison system".

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The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, is sure to receive many plaudits for his handling of the peace process but one motion calls on the Government to immediately seek the implementation of the Council of Europe's Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons' and the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, which facilitate the return of Irish prisoners serving sentences abroad.

The debate on the development of natural resources is expected to hear further calls on the Government to "take what measures are necessary to continue their fight to shut down nuclear facilities at Sellafield and THORP.

The ardfheis, the party's 69th, will be held in the RDS, Dublin. In a message to delegates, Mr Bruton has said that the party will probably have to fight a general election before the next ardfheis.