Garda bill completes stormy passage through Dáil

The Garda Síochána Bill completed its stormy passage through the Dáil last night, after a second day of angry protests from the opposition and sharp exchanges involving Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

When the Government guillotined the debate at 8pm last night, only 42 of over 300 amendments to the bill had been debated.

The bill, designed to reform the structure and accountability of the gardaí, has been the subject of record-length debate in the Oireachtas over the past year.