Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with what Ms Dunne said about taking someone away from their family for two weeks. What sort of crime would it be anyway? They tend to be petty. When we are talking about drugs and the work of the drugs committee, we are looking at health-led approaches. It would be far better to take that approach to women in particular. These are not serious crimes. I definitely understand the trauma and destruction such sentences have on their lives and those of their families.

I definitely get it.

It would be very useful, in terms of the strategy that is coming up, if we make the case that the voice of people here has to be heard. Many groups we are meeting feel they have been distanced from the drafting of the strategy. That is something we will raise as a committee.