Government is very wasteful. Anybody with any experience of government will see this promptly.
Public speeches or comments by politicians should always be seen in that context.
One is reminded of the history of waste disposal and control in Ireland. Local Authorities were the regulators of waste disposal and were the greatest offenders; their sewage, alone, was a source of great damage and offence.
These are my thoughts as I note that, shortly, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (“MJELR”) will disclose his plans for conformity with the IMF/EU “reforms” of the legal professions.
As I understand it, the professed intention is to eliminate wasteful costs.
To that end, the Minister could do worse than have a word with his fellow EU Ministers for Justice about extradition.
Surely the provisions of Section 11 of the Extradition (European Union Conventions) Act 2001 need adjusting?
They are too low.
Many offenders in Ireland, guilty of an offence falling within the terms (but not the application) of Section 11 would qualify for the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act 1907.
What the EU states have done is this; they have resolved to spend money without reserve in pursuit of EU citizens who have collided with State power. They are saying there will be no opportunity to escape the State, regardless of the triviality of the offence.
Who pays for this? Well, in Ireland, the taxpayers pay and the MJELR spends that money enthusiastically.
When Ireland receives a warrant from another EU state for the extradition of a person a very costly process is commenced. This should happen in appropriate cases, but not in inappropriate cases.
It can, and does happen, that extradition requests are made in cases where the “absconder” received a suspended sentence.
Does the MJELR keep a horse? Does he not notice he needs to clean his stables?