Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Garda youth diversion programme is primarily targeted, certainly in my experience and from where I come, at certain communities and is viewed almost as a form of labelling of children from a particular part of town, housing scheme or whatever. It is unnecessary to have this association. The scheme had a different designation previously and should have a different one again. There is no reason to believe children from any particular area will necessarily take up a wrong path in life. This is an offensive view which works against the interest of the practical and positive features the scheme has to offer. I also agree with Mr. Carroll that the media have an inordinate influence on sentencing. I will leave it at that.

I thank all the members and Mr. Carroll and Dr. Warner in the Gallery. I invite them to join us for a family photograph as part of our montage for the production of our report. I am glad Mr. Carroll made the point about the 2013 committee report because attention has been paid to its recommendations. I assure him that the committee, given the record of reports we have produced, has continued to press the respective areas of address. The recommendations we make are not just hanging out there in the ether or sitting on a shelf, as it were. We want action to follow and we will address this report in exactly the same way and with the same intent.