Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

I had a few other things to say, particularly about mandatory sentencing. While I hope the changes in the Bill that aim to tighten up and copperfasten ten year minimum sentences are successful, I am dubious about that, given the attitude of some of the Judiciary. I recently heard an interview on RTE with a judge who showed no concern about the impact of drug crime on society. He did not think it was any of his business. He also showed very little concern about the negative impact of drug dealers on their victims within the community and seemed throughout the interview to be more concerned with the odd chance he might have of changing the ways of an occasional drug dealer by meting out more lenient sentencing. I listened carefully to his entire interview and that seemed to be the focus of his role in life as a judge. When one has an attitude like that, is it any wonder the will of this House and the communities outside it that drug dealing should be taken seriously and be dealt with severely is simply ignored by the Judiciary? Given that the changes proposed in the Bill have to allow for exceptional cases, members of the Judiciary and the excessively paid members of the legal profession will find every reason under the sun to make everyone that comes before them for drug dealing an exceptional case.

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