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Six justice bills on autumn legislation list

The Government's legislative programme for the upcoming Dáil session, which runs for 13 weeks, includes 61 bills.

The Government Chief Whip Minister Hildegarde Naughton (pictured) said that 29 bills would be prioritised for publication and 32 for drafting during the session.

The bills listed for publication include six in the Department of Justice:

• Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill – to codify police powers of search, arrest, and detention and procedural rights of suspects,
• Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill – to provide for retrospective searching of images in the possession of An Garda Síochána through the use of facial-recognition technology (FRT),
• Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill – enhancements to the confiscation regime,
• Intoxicating Liquor Bill – to introduce “certain key reforms” from the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022,
• Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill – to give effect to EU Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism, and
• Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill – an amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1990 to address a recent High Court judgment on ‘aged out’ children.

Fertility clinics

Among other bills listed for publication is the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill, which will remove the ability of employers to force workers to retire once they reach the State pension age.

Minister Naughton said that the Government would also publish the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (No.2) Bill to address issues related to parentage and citizenship arising from the use of fertility clinics abroad by Irish residents and Irish citizens living abroad.

The Government is also aiming to address Oireachtas members’ lack of an entitlement to maternity leave should they become pregnant during their time in the Dáil or Seanad, through the Maternity Protection (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Bills listed for drafting in the justice area include the Life Sentences Bill, which will allow judges to recommend a minimum period to be served in custody before a person is released on parole.

The Inspection of Places of Detention Bill, which provides for inspection of all places of detention in the justice area, is also targeted for drafting. This bill also provides for the appointment and functions of the Chief Inspector of Places of Detention.