Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try to be brief. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and Mr. Clinton for his thoughtful presentation. We have heard from many people involved in penal reform. There seems to be consistency among everyone, even victims' groups, that we need to get numbers down and make penal reform more effective from the point of view of rehabilitation. There is a general assessment that things are improving. I am interested to hear Mr. Clinton's views on this. The only other issue on which I want his views is solitary confinement. I note the views he has already expressed on it. Is solitary confinement necessary to protect prison officers? Is that what he is saying? What does he think should be done to try to change the situation of people being subjected to solitary confinement in prisons?