The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has claimed that Fine Gael's criminal justice reform proposals are little more than "an attempt at a headline grabbing gimmick."
In his opening speech at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis earlier this evening, Fine Gael's leader Enda Kenny outlined a number of reforms which it intends to introduce if it is elected.
Among the proposals put forward by Kenny is the introduction of a new Bail Act which would include provision of electronic tagging of people as a condition of bail.
Responding to the call to introduce tagging, McDowell said: "As Mr. Kenny well knows, this is already provided for in the Criminal Justice Bill which is now before the Dáil."
"The practicality of Gardaí being involved in monitoring movements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year is not explained. This proposal could entail a colossal waste of Garda time," he added.
