Dr. Ciarán McCullagh:

It strikes me that penal policy is a very odd aspect of Government policy in general, being one of the few aspects of policy where public opposition is sufficient to prevent certain proposals being implemented. One does not find the same effect when it comes to opposition to the imposition of a universal social charge or increases in income tax or VAT, for example, as compared with opposition to a scheme of early prisoner release. The argument is made that there is a broader interest than merely public opposition. In other words, it is justified in terms of some overarching principle that is wider than the immediate concerns of the readership of the Daily Mail or whatever. There must be a more far-sighted approach to the formulation of penal policy. Why should those people who call Joe Duffy to voice their opposition to a particular measure have the power to make politicians run away from taking that action?