Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I have forgotten them, as it is a long time since the Deputy spoke in favour of his amendment.

I am of the view, like Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, that this system can make a useful contribution, particularly in regard to the bail-no bail issue. It might well occur to a judge dealing with the question of whether a person is likely to commit a serious gangland crime that the fact that he or she could or could not be GPS monitored might affect the judge's decision although, on the other hand, if a person is a serious criminal, his or her physical location may be less relevant than others. However, if one is lower down in the pecking order, where one goes and what one does is probably of significance.

I make the point that the system is not entirely cost free.

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