Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is one of the things we should be doing. It would lead to there being fewer guests of the State to look after and we might not need to provide another 680 prison places. We have to try to reduce the prison population.

That brings us to the end of our deliberations for today. I thank the witnesses from the Irish Prison Service, the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for the work involved in preparing for the meeting. Sometimes the committee gets briefing notes that are as clear as mud but we received a ten-page submission, which was very clear. I acknowledge that; it helps the committee.