President moves to have crime bill assessed

NEW criminal and defamation legalisation faces months of delay following President Mary McAleese’s decision to refer two justice bills to the Council of State.

The council will convene next Wednesday at Áras an Uachtaráin where the constitutionality of both the Defamation Bill 2006 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 will be discussed.

Mrs McAleese will then decide whether either bill should be tested by the Supreme Court, which would have up to 60 days to consider the matter.