THE Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, told the House that the Government is determined to bring forward proposals to deal with abuses of the bail laws. She was replying to a private member's motion from Mr Sean Maloney (Lab) calling for a register of bench warrants.
Mrs Owen said that, given the large number of bench warrants issued each year, it was clear that a reliable, centralised register could, not be set up without the benefit of computerisation.
It seemed that the Garda Siochana might be the best body to maintain a register, she said.
In other business:
. The Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Bill, 1996, was introduced and the second stage was passed.
. The Order in draft of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1995 (Southern, Regional Fisheries Commission) Order, 1996, was approved.
The House adjourned until 10.30 this morning.