New group will advise Minister on legal reform

An 11 member group to advise "the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, on the need for reform of criminal law and procedure was announced yesterday.

The Advisory Group on Criminal Law and Procedure "will provide a valuable opportunity to identify any perceived deficiencies or possible improvements in this critical area of the law", according to the Minister.

The group will review existing law and procedure and "advise the Minister on any changes that would enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of criminal law and procedure, with emphasis on identified and emerging difficulties susceptible to early resolution through the mechanism of periodic Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bills", according to the group's terms of reference.

"Almost on a daily basis people approach me with problems they perceive in criminal law or procedure and make suggestions for improvements," Mrs Owen said. The advantage of the group, would be to "provide a focus for problems that may have been building up for many years".

The group includes an expert on insanity and criminal law. Dr Barry McAuley, of University College Dublin, is the author of Insanity, Psychiatry and Criminal Responsibility.

The chairman of the group is the former Fine Gael TD and junior minister, Mr George Birmingham BL. Other members are Mr Peter Charleton SC; Mr Pat McCarthy BL; Ms Mary Ellen Ring BL; Ms Anne Fitzgerald, solicitor; Mr Brendan Henegan, solicitor; Ms Valerie Cronin, law clerk; Mr Robin Sheehan, of the Chief State Solicitor's Office; Mr Jim Woods, Chief District Court Clerk; "and a garda with court experience".