The Minister for Justice was accused of a "U-turn" and a "climbdown" on his zero tolerance policy yesterday by the Fine Gael justice spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins.
"It is quite clear that Minister O'Donoghue is fast abandoning his pre-election commitment to blanket zero tolerance. It is obvious that it was simply a populist cliche used cynically for electoral purposes which has now to be discarded.
"It is particularly worrying that any new initiatives to replace the Minister's abandoned zero tolerance policy have been put on hold until the Crime Forum recommendations become available," he said.
Mr Higgins said the Minister's speech should be seen in the context of recent events in Dublin when a man accused of being in possession of £1.5 million worth of cannabis was freed on bail, even though bail was refused at the District Court hearing of the case.
"The Minister is responsible for both prison and courts policy and I am demanding that he must make an immediate and comprehensive statement of explanation," he said.