Emergency laws on sentencing ‘will not be blocked’

Acting Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will not be opposed by Fianna Fáil when she brings emergency legislation through the Dáil to deal with last week’s suspended sentence High Court ruling.

As negotiations to form a minority Fine Gael government continue, Fianna Fáil has said it would facilitate the passing, of emergency legislation, which is needed to address a loophole.

A ruling by Judge Michael Moriarty found that the law governing the power of the courts to activate suspended sentences was unconstitutional. He said Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional on grounds including the fact that it allows for different treatment of people before the law on their rights of appeal.