John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was glad to hear Mr. Mick Quinlivin clarifying the idea that the witnesses did not want this to be a get-out-of-jail card for serious offenders. I was listening to Mr. Doggett on radio at an early hour this morning, but there was another news item later where somebody was being released after four years of a seven year sentence. While I do not know the details of that, he had escaped and re-offended at some stage. There is the human side of this, so I am glad there is a balance and that this is to improve behaviour and save lives, not to give people an escape route from being dealt with if the offences are serious.

I understand the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2013-20 has made provision for the introduction, subject to legal advice, of rehabilitation and driving awareness courses as court-based sentencing options for specific offenders.