Statement: Senator Bacik Welcomes Two Criminal Justice Bills

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Seanad Group Leader
Tuesday 26th July, 2011

SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES TWO CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS

Speaking today in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the introduction in the Seanad of both the Criminal Justice bill 2011 and the Criminal Justice (Community Service)(Amendment)(No. 2) bill 2011. Senator Bacik said:

“I very much welcome the emphasis on the prosecution of white collar crime. For far too long there has been inadequate attention paid by our criminal justice system to the existence of this type of crime. There is a perception that those engaged in fraudulent practices in banking and financial sectors in recent years have been allowed to get away with criminal behaviour – and that must change. However we must ensure that this legislation is watertight and that the additional powers that it provides for the gardaí when dealing with white collar crime will not be abused, particularly during investigations into other types of crime.

“I am also delighted to see the new provisions on community service provided for – this will make an important and very welcome change to sentencing practice, by requiring a court to consider imposing a community service order whenever a conviction has been entered for which a sentence of up to one year's imprisonment would be appropriate. This will go some way towards ensuring that prison really is a sanction of last resort – as it should be in any effective and fair penal system.”

ENDS