Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Through the Chair, I have a broad question which I think fits under this subhead. As the Minister knows, our committee worked very hard on putting forward proposals for penal reform, about which we are very proud. We made five key recommendations. The Chairman launched our report and the launch was very well attended. If those recommendations were implemented, particularly with regard to de-carceration of one third over ten years and using community service alternatives to incarceration, it would greatly help. It would be better for society, which is the most important point, but it would also very much help to reduce this budget. I ask the Minister to give his opinion on that.