The Government has approved measures to do away with a legal requirement that compels members of the Garda Technical Bureau to appear in court to give evidence.
The measures - contained in the draft Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill - were announced by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell today.
They will allow for a completed statement signed by a technical bureau officer in relation to an exhibit to be sufficient evidence in court. The move is designed to free up manpower from attending lengthy legal proceedings.
The Bill also contains provisions to allow judges the option of sending a jury home for the night rather than holding on to them in a hotel.
Currently a jury cannot separate when considering their verdict even if a judge considers it appropriate to do so.
There are also provisions in the Bill which give affect to several international instruments relating to organised crime in particular Article 15 of the UN Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime which relates to the establishment of jurisdiction over money laundering offences committed outside the territory of the State.
Several measures contained in the Council of Europe Convention on cyber-crime will also be transposed into law if the Bill is enshrined.
Minister McDowell said: "The enactment of this Bill will allow for the more effective and efficient operation of our criminal justice system and will enable Ireland to play its part in developing a common approach to combat crime at an international level."
