MRS OWEN was praised lord her work as Minister for Justice by her Labour colleague, the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn. He said he was proud to support the confidence motion.

Despite the commitment of its officials there had been a marked reluctance by the Department of Justice to keep pace with the development of the crime problem. Our prisons "bear a remarkable resemblance to the Irish prison system that existed in Victorian times". The treatment of so called "aliens" had not been in keeping with international standards.

Mrs Owen had firmly addressed all these issues in the last two years. "Her work has dispelled the cloud of inertia that hung over St Stephen's Green for far too long. It was my privilege to work alongside Minister Owen during the summer when together we assembled the greatest anti crime package this House has ever seen.

It was increasingly clear that a strategic approach was needed in the Civil Service. Industrial countries across the world were grappling with the same fundamental issues of public service management and reform as we were here.

The Minister for Transport Energy and Communications Mr Lowry, said the only legacy left to the Irish public after eight years of successive Fianna Fail Justice Ministers was a criminal justice system stretched to breaking point. It was eight years of inaction and neglect.

"Yet Fianna Fail, catapulted out of office, now have the brass neck to put up billboards promising to put all criminals behind bars. Under Fianna Fail the only bars the criminal fraternity saw were lounge bars."

It was time for the Opposition to stop play acting "and get off the roundabout of rhetoric. The public want the Government to concentrate on the business of running this country. They want action on two fronts - crime and the economy." Minister Owen was tackling crime and under Minister Quinn "the economy has never been stronger. Innovation and enterprise are being rewarded."

Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois Offaly) said it was regrettable that there should be criticism of the Civil Service in the debate. He was particularly concerned at the "outrageous suggestion" that the establishment of new structures for the courts and prison service was an attempt to do a disservice to those who worked in these areas for decades. The dedicated service of the civil servants would obviously be needed under the new system.

Mr Tom Kitt (FF, Dublin South) said it was clear for some time that Mrs Owen was unable to come to grips with her portfolio and take command of her Department. The latest fiasco "beggars belief".

The Government parties were prepared to stand over the actions of the Minister and Attorney General. Did anyone believe that if Mr Spring were on the Opposition benches he would be defending their actions? Mr Spring's fine words on accountability uttered in November 1994 would ring hollow in the public ear.

Mr Dermot Ahern, Fianna Fail chief whip, said the hypocrisy of the Labour Party was "breathtaking". This was the party "who, through its ventriloquist leader, Fergus Finlay, lectured us all about accountability and high standards".

Democratic Left had "thrown in the towel" and were prepared to accept any malfeasance. The Taoiseach "who lectured us all about accountability and working behind a pane of glass is nothing more than a political hypocrite. He made himself out to be the great reformer but the way in which he has treated this debate and indeed the way in which he had hid behind the rules at every twist and turn is the total opposite to all that he preached when in opposition.

Mrs Owen had again "surpassed herself as a hapless and hopeless Minister". "We now find that because of the inaction of the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice alleged criminals came before a court that was not properly constituted."

Mr David Andrews (FE, Dun Laoghaire) said an inquiry was set up by the Minister only because she could not manage her own Department.

The reforms announced by the Taoiseach on Tuesday showed the Minister as being incapable of managing her Department or the Taoiseach and her Cabinet colleagues had decided that for her.