Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The bulk of the amendments in this section are mine and I will go through them individually. My amendments are linked and share a theme but some highlight different points.

My amendment No. 10 refers to the appointment system and calls for the two members with experience of the supervision or aftercare of discharged prisoners to be appointed subject to section 8(2)(i). At the moment it is the Minister who appoints under this heading. I tabled my amendment because I believe that two persons appointed through a competitive selection process co-ordinated by the Public Appointments Service is better than the Minister appointing such persons. We have the same debate on every piece of legislation whether it is appointment to a judicial council or everything else. There is a danger when the Minister nominates that the appointment would appear to be less transparent. That is the only reason I tabled my amendment.

Amendment No. 13 seeks to add two new members to the board. Like Deputy Wallace's amendment No. 9, my amendment seeks to add people from the community to the board. Amendment No. 13 reads:

two persons appointed through a competitive selection process coordinated by the Public Appointments Service with knowledge and experience of working or volunteering in a support role with criminal offenders and discharged prisoners.

My amendment has a similar intent to that of Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment No. 12, which allows for the possibility of two community representatives. My amendment seeks to appoint people who have worked in the community or in pastoral roles with offenders to the board. They would be a welcome addition. My amendment is more definite than amendment No. 12. My amendment wants it made obligatory to appoint two community persons rather than leave it as an option. The aim of my amendment is supported by the present parole board.

I made the point on Second Stage that the board is heavily weighted towards legal and high powered people who, with the best will in the world, probably have more professional contact rather than a direct experience of dealing with some of people who are up for parole. In that sense, community experience and that type of background would add a good and necessary balance to the board. My amendment is important to me because it seeks to make the provision obligatory rather than optional.

I tabled amendments Nos. 14 and 15. Section 8(1) provides for the parole board to be made up of "not more than 15" members. My amendment seeks to improve gender representation and bring it closer to 50:50.