Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Select Committee on Justice and Equality

Parole Bill 2016: Committee Stage

9:00 am

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim 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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