Govt to push new Criminal Justice Bill through Dáil

The Government is set to force the contentious new Criminal Justice Bill through the Dáil today without the normal period of debate.

The proposed legislation would give gardaí tough new powers to tackle gangland criminals, including the use of covert surveillance evidence in court.

It would also allow gangland suspects to be tried before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, where the opinion of a garda will be admissible as evidence.

Anyone convicted of directing the activities of a criminal gang could be jailed for life.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is accusing the Government of abusing the Dáil by rushing the bill into law before the house breaks for the summer next week.

The ICCL says the legislation bears all the hallmarks of a police state and should be subject to the most detailed scrutiny.