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Pringle slams Government for lack of scrutiny and engagement in rushed courts bill
- Updated: 3rd July 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, again slammed Government for rushing through a bill in the days before the summer recess, calling the move disrespectful to the democratic process.
Addressing the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Pringle said: “I have already expressed my disapproval of this bill being rushed through during a meeting of the Justice Committee regarding this legislation. I wouldn’t call it pre-legislative scrutiny because that was not what it was two weeks ago.
“Members of the Justice Committee were given a short note by the Department regarding its contents and then a Department official came in for a very brief explanation of the legislation. There was certainly no scrutiny or proper analysis of this bill and no engagement whatsoever with stakeholders.
“I predicted it would be rushed through the Houses within weeks and I was right. It was rushed through the Seanad last week and here it is being rushed through the Dáil this week,” he said.
The deputy was speaking on the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024.
Deputy Pringle said: “I, and many other NGOs, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, have raised concerns time and time again regarding how this government handles legislation.
“Not only does it put significant stress on Oireachtas services, such as the Bills Office and the Library and Research Office, it does not allow adequate time for proper scrutiny by members of the Oireachtas. It is completely disrespectful to our role here as parliamentarians and to the democratic process as well,” he said.
The deputy listed a number of amendments that the Minister is to bring forward in Committee Stage next week in the Dáil.
Deputy Pringle said: “This is all going to be rushed through next week in Committee Stage and it’s going to be supposedly scrutinized here in the Dáil, which we know won’t happen.”
He said that while some aspects of the legislation relate to a judgment delivered about six to eight weeks ago in relation to the courts, “It’s just a bit too much of a coincidence that it’s always in July and in December that these urgent pieces of legislation have to be rushed through.”
The deputy also raised concerns with a number of provisions in the bill.
He said: “It reads like a bill the Department created last minute, with many different issues fired in to ensure that all angles are covered. This is not how legislation should be written, without proper regard or engagement.”
