Clause 7

Part of Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 7:15 pm on 16 January 2007.

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Photo of Paul Goggins Paul Goggins Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern Ireland Office 7:15, 16 January 2007

I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that that would not be the case because the grounds for the appeal relate to the character and way of operating of the Director of Public Prosecutions rather than the background of the defendant. I can therefore give him the assurance that he seeks. In adopting the administrative route we seek to protect information  sources. Those small number of cases where it is justified to make a certificate can be very sensitive indeed and it is absolutely essential to keep that out of the public domain and away from the defendant in order to make sure that we actually have a fair trial.