Cost of bail plan ‘will be high’

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has admitted that plans to electronically tag serial offenders who are temporarily released on bail will have significant “financial implications” for the State.

The Tánaiste made the comments after the Cabinet yesterday signed off on a series of amendments to the existing bail system in a bid to tighten restrictions preventing suspects from being released back onto the streets while awaiting trial.

Under plans detailed in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, the Government is set to put in place a series of new bail measures over the coming weeks, with plans to toughen the rules for someone to be released on bail, night curfews, and potential electronic tagging.