Terror laws must balance ‘society and individual rights’
The International Bar Association conference, on transnational crime, is taking place over three days this weekend. High-profile delegates include judges, lawyers, investigators and those involved in human rights activities.
The investigation of crime across borders and global policing at a time of increasing insecurity were discussed at the conference in Dublin yesterday.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell, opening the conference, claimed new terrorist offences legislation, the Criminal Justice Bill, is a “necessary and balanced response to the threat posed by international terrorism”.
“The Bill does not adversely affect a person’s rights either under the Irish Constitution or under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.,” the minister claimed.
The bill will bring in to law here a series of international conventions, aimed at preventing and punishing crimes against internationally-protected persons and suppressing ‘terrorist’ bombings and financing.
Under the law, ‘terrorist offences’ will be a distinct offence and will apply to those who commit them in the State and outside.
At the conference yesterday, the freezing and confiscation of assets was also raise. This relates not only to global terrorist offences, but also organised crime.
There was some criticism from civil rights groups that the targeting of alleged proceeds of crime ignores due process, that a suspect is presumed guilty.
