The Opposition has assailed the Dáil for endorsing a disorganised and all-encompassing criminal justice Bill, warning the Government of likely legal disputes. A broad spectrum of concerns encapsulated within the Bill garnered negative feedback from Opposition TDs. These encompass an increase in the total number of standard judges in the Appeals Court from 17 to 18, revoking citizenship, levying larger penalties on airlines transporting passengers without valid visas, elongating the maximum penalties for knife-crime violations, and raising the obligatory retirement age for emergency services, inclusive of police and firefighters.
A specific TD cadre blasted the recurring tendency to hasten Bill ratifications at the tail end of the Dáil term. Brendan Howlin, the justice spokesperson for the Labour party, exclaimed that it is gravely inappropriate to hurriedly pass any legislation, and especially egregious when the legislation is of such critical importance.
Howlin went on to characterise the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill as an all-inclusive, messy legal document. Counter to this, the Justice Minister Helen McEntee staunchly defended the Bill. She emphasised the pressing need to make certain modifications that cannot be easily inserted into other laws or need to be rapidly implemented.
She highlighted the significance of much of what is incorporated in this legal text, underlining the exigency to approve it prior to the summer break. Following suit, the justice representative of Sinn Féin, Pa Daly, critiqued the Bill as a variety pack piece of legislation. Daly voiced concerns around the decision to reduce the mandatory professional experience backdrop for solicitors or barristers serving on the International Protection Appeals Tribunal from five to two years, considering this hasty and potentially problematic.
Raising his concerns, Independent TD, Thomas Pringle, accused the Government of making a mockery of the legislative protocol by introducing adjustments only at the close of the Dáil term. Independent TD, Catherine Connolly, conspicuous in her agreement with Mr Howlin’s anxieties, signalled that a two-tier citizenship system is on the horizon and ultimate legal proceedings are imminent.
Jim O’Callaghan, a TD from Fianna Fáil, stated that the Government should have the authority to decide on the revocation of naturalisation. This comes after the Supreme Court declared that the previously followed procedure by the Minister for Justice to revoke citizenship had systemic flaws. However, alterations were incorporated into the law to rectify this.
O’Callaghan didn’t think the Supreme Court was overly anxious concerning the ability to revoke naturalisation, suggesting that a Minister could only proceed with such a step for valid reasons. Mr Howlin pointed out that such a move creates disparity between naturalised citizens and those who are citizens by birth, leading to a kind of unequal citizenship.
The Minister, Ms McEntee, countered that the provision actually enhances the measures to ensure that the revocation process is solid and unbiased. She pointed out that the power has been exercised very rarely, only eight times in total, and only in the gravest of situations. She emphasised that stripping of Irish citizenship is a severe consequence and each case is thoroughly examined.
Labour’s Ged Nash expressed concerns about the provision to raise the retirement age of emergency service workers, noting it does not specify the proposal to hike the age from 60 to 62. Workers are worried that the Minister could unilaterally decide to raise the compulsory retirement age. However, the Minister clarified that any changes implemented will be voluntary, as the goal of these proposals is to allow those individuals who wish to extend their careers beyond the current legal limit to do so.