Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is a very interesting note on which to end. I thank Mr. Costello for coming in to us. He has raised a significant number of issues in his report and submission. I apologise but I have to be up in the Chamber shortly and cannot stay long.

I disagree with Mr Costello on private prisons. If one looks at the literature and experience of private prisons in the UK and US in particular, they have not been a happy experience. The problem is that the number of people in them tends to expand as prison places become available. This committee has produced a report suggesting there should be a lower use of imprisonment and that prison should be a last resort. I do not agree it is a good road to go down, although I agree with Mr Costello that we should have an open prison facility for women.

On a more serious note, Mr Costello spoke about the issue of the guilty plea as a factor when reviewing a prisoner for parole and said it is not currently a factor the Parole Board can consider when reviewing a prisoner for parole. Did he make the point that admission of guilt in a more general sense is a factor?