THE Law Reform Commission's report on reform of the bail laws was criticised by the Taoiseach amid sharp exchanges with the opposition parties. He said that the Cabinet expected to consider its own proposals on the issue within six weeks.

Declaring that the Fianna Fail record on bail was "not good", the Taoiseach accused the party of referring the bail laws to the Law Reform Commission as a delaying tactic when it was in government.

The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, asked Mr Bruton if he was challenging the appropriateness of allowing the commission discuss the matter.

Replying that he did not believe it was appropriate, Mr Bruton said: "I do not believe that the recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission are particularly realistic. Therefore, I do not believe that it was a worthwhile exercise on the part of the previous government to refer the matter to the commission."

Mr Bruton added that it would be premature to make any announcement on what the Government would do until proposals, to be submitted by the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, had been considered.

"I think it is appropriate, given the acknowledged difficulties and balancing of rights that is required in this area, that the Government should consider the matter carefully," he added.

The PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, said that the commission had reported on bail some four months ago. Mr Bruton said that the PDs had been opposed to change in that area in the past and he was glad to know they had changed their views. He could remember eloquent speeches from Deputy Michael McDowell opposing changes in the bail provisions.

Mr McDowell said that he had drafted a Bill to reform the bail laws, which Mr Bruton had voted down. He had also consistently stated that it made no sense to reform the bail laws unless the Government did its duty and provided extra jail spaces.

It was only now, when the country was in virtual revolution, that the Government was prepared to act on it.

Mr Bruton said that the Minister was providing the extra jail spaces which enabled the Government to consider the question of whether a constitutional referendum was needed to reform the bail laws.

Ms Harney said that she had supported the measures introduced by the Minister because she believed it was important not to play politics with the crime issue. While her party understood the difficulties in changing the bail laws, it had always favoured change.

Earlier, Mr Ahern said that Fianna Fail recognised and acknowledged the beginning of the U turn by the Government on Castlerea and the bail laws. "We also welcome the fact that the parties in Government have at last recognised the seriousness of the crime situation," he added.

But he said that the provision of 25 prison places in Castlerea was a "hopeless effort".

Mr Bruton said that the Minister's proposals were going to deliver prison spaces immediately, whereas the original project, which was now being reviewed and moving forward at a lower cost, was not going to deliver them immediately.

Mr Ahern said that if the Castlerea project had gone ahead as planned it would now be almost completed. Ms Owen remarked: "It would not."