Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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There is a lot of agreement. I will go through the amendments one by one. The amendment we are dealing with now is amendment No. 3, in which Deputy Daly is trying to amend the definition of parole order. At present, the Bill states it shall be construed in accordance with section 22. Deputy Daly wants to change this to section 22(1) and (2) and she also proposes a new section. It is easier if we leave it in accordance with section 22, the way it is. It complicates it by having to specify subsections.

There is agreement on the more general issue. If we look at amendment No. 6, which I have proposed, it is in effect similar to what is contained in Deputy Daly's amendment No. 5. What we are seeking to do is provide that one of the functions of the parole board shall be to make recommendations regarding the sentence management of prisoners and transfers to an open prison. This is a function the board will have. With regard to parole orders, these are dealt with in section 22. Obviously, the parole board will have the power in respect of parole orders. I am slightly hesitant about giving governors powers to revoke parole orders. We need to have a clear statutory basis that it is the parole board which has this power. It can set out orders and revoke orders. Amendment No. 3 is unnecessary and we should go with amendment No. 6, which is the same as Deputy Daly's amendment No. 5.