Madam, - We the undersigned wish to express our concern at the recent proposals put forward by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the Scheme for the Criminal Justice Bill 2007.
We acknowledge the serious threat which organised crime poses to society, and we would support the introduction of effective and proportionate measures to deal with this problem. However, we do not believe that the 2007 Bill represents an effective and proportionate measure.
We are particularly concerned about the proposal to alter radically the legal position regarding the right to silence of an accused person.
This represents a fundamental change to the long-established principles of criminal law.
We are also concerned that the Minister has proposed that this, and other radical changes, should become law within two months. Such a short time-frame precludes careful consideration, public debate and dialogue, all of which are requisites for the making of sound law and the functioning of a democratic society.
We call on the Minister to take account of legitimate concerns about the disproportionate nature of the proposals, and to engage in more extensive consultation on any legislation before it is rushed into law. - Yours, etc,
PAULINE WALLEY SC,
IVANA BACIK BL,
BRENDAN GREHAN SC,
PADDY McCARTHY SC,
ANTHONY SAMMON SC,
GERRY O'BRIEN SC,
CONOR DEVALLY SC,
MICHAEL O'HIGGINS SC,
NIALL DURNIN SC,
AILEEN DONNELLY SC,
SEAN GILLANE BL,
DOMINIC McGINN BL,
CAROLINE BIGGS BL,
VINCENT HENEGHAN BL,
GARRET BAKER BL,
SIOBHÁN NÍ CHULACHÁIN BL,
Law Library,
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Dublin 7.