THE Tanaiste signalled the need for tougher new bail laws at the launch of the Labour Party's by election campaign in Dublin West yesterday.
The party was absolutely committed to ending the scandal of revolving door prisons, of people growing rich through drugdealing, and of people committing crimes on bail, Mr Spring said. Criminals had to learn that crimes of violence or involving guns would lead automatically to a harsh sentence, and that sentence would be served.
"They have to learn, too, that the person who commits a crime on bail will be found guilty of an additional offence, that mandatory consecutive sentences will ensure that there is no benefit to the criminals involved, and that forfeiture of any money put up for bail will be an additional penalty," Mr Spring said.
In Buncrana, meanwhile, the Taoiseach launched his party's campaign in the Donegal NorthEast by election yesterday, claiming that putting a second Fine Gael TD from the constituency into the Dail would send a clear signal to everyone that his approach on the economy and the peace process was the right one.
Mr Bruton denied Fine Gael was in disarray in the constituency, adding that the selection of Cll Jim Sheridan, a 50 year old school principal and Buncrana UDC member, had his full support. Competition for the nomination had led to some friction, he admitted, but that could also be interpreted as a healthy sign for the organisation in the county.
He added that although the party had never returned two Dail deputies from this constituency, he was confident its candidate, who had tremendous experience in the fields of education and youth work, would appeal to the electorate right across the constituency and not just in his native Inishowen.
Speaking about the peace process, Mr Bruton said lasting peace, would be of tremendous benefit to a county like Donegal. "If the threat of violence was removed in the North, Donegal, more than any other county in the Republic, would stand to benefit."
. At a selection convention in Portlaoise last night, Senator Cathy Honan was unanimously selected as the Progressive Democrats candidate for Laois/Offaly in the next general election.