Ms Michelle Martyn:

Senator Black referred to the limits on the numbers of convictions and how these do not take into account the circumstances of the offender. For example, addiction is one particular issue that should be taken into account, and that is why it is very important to examine the restrictions. As Ms Ní Chinnéide said, there is a lot of research in France, Spain and Sweden, and we should be looking at systems there, rather than just looking at England and Northern Ireland.