Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the Minister has said. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn would like to focus on the ten year rule. The Minister has said the amendment will create an unequal situation between prisoners, but is it also the case that by not excluding prisoners who are out on licence as a result of the Good Friday Agreement, he is saying it is likely most of these individuals will be covered by the ten year rule but not all of them? Even in admitting this, some prisoners are being treated differently from others released under the Agreement. Some may come under the rule, but others may be outside it.