SF: Criminal Justice Bill will curtail citizen’s rights

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has today expressed his party's opposition to the Criminal Justice Bill 2007.

Speaking in the Dáil today during the second stage debate on the Bill, Mr Ó Snodaigh said: “This Bill unnecessarily and unjustifiably curtails the rights of citizens and crucially it will not address gangland crime or the related drugs crisis.”

“I want to categorically express Sinn Féin’s opposition to the Government’s latest retrogressive, impotent and dangerous gift to an inadequately reformed police force.

“This Bill unnecessarily and unjustifiably curtails the rights of citizens and crucially it will not address gangland crime or the related drugs crisis which the same Government have allowed to become entrenched in our capital and across the state.

“We are opposed to the undemocratic manner in which the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 is being introduced and we are opposed to most of its content.

“This Bill has more to do with getting a populist vote than with getting tough on criminals.”

Mr Ó Snodaigh went on to criticise opposition parties for not making their position on the Bill clear enough.

“Like McDowell,” he said. “I hope the ‘coalition of the confused’ will also fully clarify their respective positions on the Bill’s substance for the sake of the electorate.”