Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

The points being made are valid. The current proposed formulation is too restrictive. I am already aware of a lady proposing to stand for election to the Seanad, Valerie Bresnihan, whose central platform is prison reform. She has a lifelong abiding interest in this area. I wish the lady all the best but I do not even know her politics. I believe she is totally independent. If she were to succeed in her bid, as well she might, it would be quite outrageous if she were restricted from visiting prisons as somebody who would be centrally involved in the issue. I urge the Government to reconsider the current restrictive formulation.

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