THE Government had deliberately chosen the wording of the bail amendment to ensure that it was in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, the Labour Party Minister of State, Ms Joan Burton, said yesterday.
The wording was almost exactly the same and the Government's amendment was even stronger than the relevant provision in the European Convention.
"The European Convention is, rightly, highly regarded by people who value civil rights and civil liberties. The Labour Party has a long and proud record of upholding, civil rights and liberties," said Ms Burton.
The Fine Gael Minister of State, Mr Gay Mitchell, told a party meeting at Cootehill, Co Cavan, that the amendment was "the latest element of a concerted plan to give back to individuals the basic human right to live in safe, secure communities".
Accused persons had rights but so also did the victims of crime. "For too long the rights of the accused have been highlighted and the rights of victims and other decent people in the community have been forgotten," Mr Mitchell said.
Addressing a public meeting at University College Dublin, the Democratic Left Minister of State, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the amendment would increase the courts' discretion by allowing them to take account of the need to protect innocent victims against a serious crime being carried out by a person on bail. "All that the amendment, and the subsequent legislation, will do is increase the options available to the courts."
He was sharply criticised yesterday by the Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, over his statement earlier this week that "the McKenna judgment during the divorce referendum has prevented the Government from providing information about the amendment".
She claimed the Minister of State was "totally distorting" the Supreme Court ruling in the case.
"That judgment only prevents one sided advertising or information campaigns funded by taxpayers' money. In reading his judgment, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, made it clear that no objection was made to the provision of factual and objective information by the Government."