Number 26 of 2006

AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA IN RELATION TO THE INVESTIGATION OF OFFENCES; TO AMEND CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE IN OTHER RESPECTS, INCLUDING PROVISION FOR THE ADMISSIBILITY IN EVIDENCE OF CERTAIN WITNESS STATEMENTS, AN EXTENSION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN ANY CASE OR, IF HE OR SHE IS THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITY IN A TRIAL, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS MAY REFER A QUESTION OF LAW TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR DETERMINATION OR TAKE AN APPEAL IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, PROVISION FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO ORGANISED CRIME, AMENDMENTS TO THE MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1977, AN OBLIGATION, IN THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMON GOOD, ON PERSONS CONVICTED ON INDICTMENT OF CERTAIN DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENCES TO NOTIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA, PROVISIONS IN RELATION TO SENTENCING, A RESTRICTION OF THE OFFENCES TO WHICH SECTION 10(4) OF THE PETTY SESSIONS (IRELAND) ACT 1851 APPLIES, AN AMENDMENT OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE CIRCUIT COURT IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, THE IMPOSITION OF FIXED CHARGES IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN OFFENCES UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (PUBLIC ORDER) ACT 1994 AND AN AMENDMENT OF THE PETTY SESSIONS (IRELAND) ACT 1851 RELATING TO THE ISSUE AND EXECUTION OF CERTAIN WARRANTS; TO AMEND THE FIREARMS ACTS 1925 TO 2000 AND THE EXPLOSIVES ACT 1875; TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR BY ADULTS AND CHILDREN; TO AMEND THE CHILDREN ACT 2001; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY TO BE KNOWN AS AN COISTE COMHAIRLEACH UM CHÓDÚ AN DLÍ CHOIRIÚIL OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS, THE CRIMINAL LAW CODIFICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[16th July, 2006]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: