Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I accept the Minister's reassurance on that point. Am I right in thinking that the early release programme, carried out by a committee that meets in various prisons, would kick in only after the minimum sentence had been completed? I hope the removal of discretion from the judges is constitutionally sound because there have been many challenges to legislation, and I would hate to think that something as worthwhile as protecting people from violence would fall because of a constitutional challenge.

Am I the only one who sees the irony in what is happening in this Bill? On the one hand, people say it is a great day for democracy because we will be protected from guns, but on the other, in approximately 25 minutes, we will debate a Bill giving people the right to shoot people who break into their homes. I happen to believe that guns are dangerous no matter who holds them. What happens if I shoot three burglars?

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