A SPOKESMAN for the Lab Reform Commission has defended its report on the bail laws after criticism made by the Taoiseach in the Dail last week.
The secretary to the commission, Mr John Quirke, confirmed that the body was precluded from delivering specific proposals or recommendations.
Mr Bruton, in exchanges with the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, accused the previous government of referring the bail laws to the commission as a "delaying tactic".
Though reluctant to comment, on the grounds that the commission's role is simply to deliver its reports, Mr Quirke confirmed that the commission was not asked to make recommendations.
According to the then Minister for Justice, Mrs Ma ire Geoghegan Quinn, she raised the issue of a referendum on bail in early 1994 and was advised by the then Attorney General, Mr Harry Whelehan, that the matter was a complex one.
It was Mr Whelehan who referred it to the commission pursuant to Section 4 (2)(c) of the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 which provides that the commission will undertake research on any "branch or matter of law" at the request of the Attorney General "and, if so requested, formulate and submit to (him) proposals for its reform".
It is not clear why Mr Whelehan, who on radio last week argued strongly for the status quo, did not request the body to make recommendations.
Asked yesterday why this was, he said he had no comment to make.
The Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, has pledged to bring forward proposals based on the report within the next few weeks.