Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Select Committee on Justice and Equality
Parole Bill 2016: Committee Stage
9:00 am
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
I move amendment No. 7:
In page 8, line 22, after “Courts” to insert “or is a practicing academic, barrister or solicitor of at least 10 years standing”.
Amendment No. 7 proposes to expand the qualifications of an individual who can become chairman of the new parole board. In the original draft, it was limited to somebody who was a judge or retired judge. The reasoning for that was that it is a quasi-judicial function that is going to be carried out by the parole board. However, it should be extended, and I have extended it to "a practicing academic, barrister or solicitor of at least 10 years standing". That is not because I am trying to limit it to lawyers. It is an important legal function and that the person who is chairman of the board should have a legal qualification. That is the reason for amendment No. 7. Will I discuss the other amendments?
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