Kenny's law and order policies criticised as 'populist stunt'
Fine Gael’s proposals to tag offenders while on bail is a populist stunt to win votes, it was claimed today.
Opposition leader Enda Kenny told delegates at his party’s 73rd Ard Fheis last night that 11,000 serious crimes like robbery, rape and murder were committed by offenders while out on bail in the past two years.
However Progressive Democrats TD Liz O’Donnell said the proposals may be unconstitutional and added that legislation was already in place for electronic tagging where appropriate.
She said: “Sorry, but I don’t even think the Labour Party would agree with that. That’s nonsense. We have legislation for that.”
But Fine Gael Senator Brian Hayes replied: “Enda Kenny is absolutely right to put this issue back on the agenda again. It is absolutely right that people who commit serious offences, that the state should know exactly where they are 24/7.”
Senator Hayes said an amendment to the Constitution should be passed if required to pass the law.
In his presidential address in Dublin’s CityWest Hotel, Mr Kenny claimed people were losing faith with a legal system which protected the rights of criminals.
“They’re tagged, the people are safer. When the law and order party is back in power, the thugs will be out of business,” he told delegates.
He also vowed to change the law so that homeowners couldn’t be sued if they tackled intruders on their property.
Judges will base sentencing on the impact of the offender’s crimes on the victims, he suggested.
“I want our judges to be more accountable to the people. I want them to be the people’s representatives,” he remarked.
He also proposed that the Oireachtas decide the range of sentences for each serious crime and judges must explain their reasons in open court if they deviate from this.
“This protects judicial independence but makes the system more transparent, the judges more accountable,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ms O’Donnell’s PD colleague, Minister of State Tim O’Malley described Fine Gael’s proposals to fine Accident & Emergency drunks as a perversion of medical ethics and an attack on patients with mental health conditions.
Mr Kenny said: “Get the drunks out of A&E. Put the weekend warriors into drunk tanks. Fine them. Hit them where it hurts, in their pockets.”
But Mr O’Malley warned: “Suggesting that fines should be imposed on intoxicated persons in A&Es would pervert medical practice and show a total disregard for people with mental health problems.
“Every person presenting at A&E is a patient, no matter what their circumstances. The fundamental duty of doctors, nurses and hospitals is to treat patients according to medical need.
“But Enda Kenny now promises they will be required to hit patients where it hurts. This is a perversion of medical ethics.”
In probably the last Fine Gael gathering before the next General Election, Mr Kenny also called for 15 Urgent Care Centres to be set up around the country and free GP care to every child under five years old.
He also promised Fine Gael will use public land to build public beds and would start with 600 step-down beds in Dublin.
In a direct message to the Taoiseach on the health services, he said: “I believe that any government of this country that cannot look after the health of its people – does not deserve to be in power, and does not deserve to be returned to power.”
