Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Penal Reform: Discussion (Resumed)

9:00 am

Mr. Vivian Geiran:

Yes. They often do. We do not always give ourselves enough credit for our community service in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, in some jurisdictions, including some that are not too far away, people have to wear special clothing that identifies them as participants on community service. We absolutely do not stipulate this at all. We do not make the people working in the local community identifiable as having been convicted. In some places, it appears as if the probation services get people to do the most menial and meaningless work. We always try - sometimes it is a challenge - to ensure the work people do on community service is not only valuable to the community but also allows the individual to feel it is meaningful and contributes something positive in his or her local area.