The Law Society of Ireland does not believe there is a serious problem with witness intimidation in Ireland, the Oireachtas Committee on Justice heard today.
Giving a presentation to the Committee, president of the Law Society, Mr Gerry Griffin, said: "I don't really believe and the Society doesn't really believe, that there's a serious sustainable problem with intimidation of witnesses".
He added that while a "Sicilian version of omerta" applied in some areas of the country, he said these were social and cultural issues which could not be alleviated by just legislation alone.
"In other words, you do not go to make a complaint to the police, you do not go to a solicitor to get a solicitor's letter written to someone who has upset you. You deal with it another way. These in a sense...are social issues which have to be dealt with not necessarily by legislative issues," Mr Griffin told the Committee.
The Oireachtas Committee on Justice is reviewing the criminal justice system and had invited the Law Society to make a submission particularly in light of recent allegations of witness intimidation.
The Law Society did recommend the "common law offences" of perjury and contempt be statutorily defined.
The Society added that judicial resources were over-stretched and there was no point in appointing new judges unless there was a commensurate number of back-up staff appointed as well.
The Society made no recommendation to change legislation in regard to witness intimidation. It did, however, recommend the "common law offences" of perjury and contempt be statutorily defined and all statements from accused persons should be video-taped in garda stations.