All parties must vote to retain the Special Criminal Court – Minister Humphreys

The Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys will next week bring motions before the Dáil and Seanad to renew the Offences Against the State Acts and the Criminal Justice Act for another year.

Speaking at a media event today during the 80^th Fine Gael Ard Fheis, Minister Humphreys TD, called on all TDs and senators to support the renewal of the Offences Against the State Acts and Criminal Justice Act in the Oireachtas next week.

Minister Humphreys has said the Acts and the Special Criminal Court have served the State well in tackling organised crime and the subversive threat.

She said that only a vote for these measures will send a strong signal that criminality and subversion will not be tolerated by the State.

The Minister said: “What we have always stood for in Fine Gael, and will always stand for, is the security of the State and law and order.

“Next week, I will bring motions before the Dáil and Seanad to renew the Offences Against the State Acts and the Criminal Justice Act for another year.

“The Offences Against the State Acts and the Special Criminal Court are key elements in our armoury in protecting the State and our people from the threat from organised crime and dissidents.

“There is, of course, an independent review underway into the Offences Against the State Acts, and I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of that review. It is the first review in 20 years and it is very timely.

“We all await the outcome of the review, but I believe that a vote for these motions next week will send a strong signal that criminality and subversion will not be tolerated.

“The Programme for Government is clear that we will renew the Offences Against the State Acts and the Criminal Justice Act every year.

“I welcome the statement from Pearse Doherty a number of weeks ago that he shares a determination to tackle organised crime and criminal gangs. So. Sinn Féin have the chance next week to put their money where their mouth is and vote for the Offences Against the State Acts.

“A vote for the Offences Against the State Acts is a vote against the criminals and subversives – an abstention is not.”