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

The section provides for the revocation of a parole order or the suspension of a parole order. Deputies Daly and Wallace are correct in stating that serious sanctions can be imposed by the parole board. They only arise in circumstances where conditions have been breached and the other grounds are set out in the section. The section states that a person who is the subject of a parole order can have it revoked if he or she poses an undue risk to the safety of the community and he or she has breached his or her release conditions and the board is satisfied that the gravity of the matters outlined justify the revocation of a parole order.

Then there are lesser grounds for a suspension. Either way, under section 25(4), they have an entitlement to a hearing and it is not as though one can have some arbitrary decision by the parole board stating it will revoke that person's parole order. The person will get a hearing. It is not feasible for it simply to be the case that they could only revoke it if the person has committed a criminal offence. One is out on licence, to a certain extent, when one is out on parole and it is a privilege that one is being given. It is not only if one commits a criminal offence. One must comply with the conditions. For instance, one of the conditions could be to stay away from a particular person. If one starts approaching that person again, one shall have it revoked or suspended.