Press Release, for immediate release
20 June 2011
Ireland’s independent human rights watchdog, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has today (20 June 2011) said that the Government’s move to renew redundant “gangland” powers in the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 “defies reason”.
Speaking on the eve of Minister Alan Shatter’s scheduled appearance in the Dáil to request the renewal of section 8 of the 2009 Act, ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly said:
“Section 8 of the 2009 Act makes the sweeping claim that ‘the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order’. However, the report that Minister Shatter himself laid before both houses of the Oireachtas last week makes clear that, for the second year running, not a single case has been brought before the Special Criminal Court using these powers. In those circumstances, it defies reason that the Government is seeking to prolong the operation of these draconian powers for a further year”.
“More generally, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties regrets that, in open defiance of consistent recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the Government plans to retain the Special Criminal Court. The ICCL will be raising Ireland’s failure to abolish the Special Criminal Court with the Human Rights Council of the United Nations when Ireland faces its first Universal Periodic Review later this year”, Mr Kelly added.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Walter Jayawardene
Communications Manager
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
9-13 Blackhall Place
Dublin 7
Ireland
Tel. + 353 1 799 4503
Mob: +353 87 9981574
Fax. + 353 1 799 4512
E-mail walter.jayawardene@iccl.ie
E-mail: info@iccl.ie
NOTE TO EDITOR:
• The motion before Dail Éireann tomorrow on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) act 2009 is:
“That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 1st July, 2011 and ending on 29th June, 2012.”
• The motion before Dail Éireann tomorrow on the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 is:
“That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period of 12 months beginning on 30th June, 2011.”
• Minister Shatter addressed Seanad Éireann regarding the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 on 15 June 2011. See http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/06/15/00010.asp
• Minister Shatter addressed Seanad Éireann regarding the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 on 14 June 2011. See http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/06/14/00005.asp