Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My good wife's mother comes from the region.

I wish to make a second point. The number of women, as a proportion of the people sentenced and committed to prison for whatever reason, has risen from 12% in 2010 to 19%, which is information supplied to me on foot of my tabling a parliamentary question.

I again acknowledge the work of the Garda and there is no criticism implied or intended by in what I have to say. Are there extra things the Garda could do, particularly interaction with women who end up in prison? I ask this question due to the disproportionate impact imprisonment for whatever reason has on women, many of whom are mothers and who are key people in the family, etc. I repeat, I do not criticise in any way what is done by the Garda. Are there new initiatives? Is there more we can do to prevent women being imprisoned?