Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I believe the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will say the Opposition is all over the place on this issue. Over the past 12 months much has been said about mandatory sentencing, boot camps and banning hoodies. There have been stark calls for law and order and the hang 'em and flog 'em, throw-away-the-key approach. In a matter such as the Prisons Bill, the key element is rehabilitation. Mandatory sentencing is antithetical to rehabilitation; they run contrary to each other. Recidivism is almost guaranteed if an offender is not offered the possibility of early or temporary release, rehabilitation or non-custodial sentences are removed or judges are not allowed the discretion to deal with cases.

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