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

It has also been found in the UK that very few offenders who completed curfew orders breached other community penalties that ran alongside. That is why I would like people to have an open mind regarding such new technology. It would be an addition to the range of instruments available to deal with criminals and significant savings could be made. For example, the cost of home detention curfews in the UK was approximately Stg£880 per month whereas it costs €2,000 per week to keep somebody in custody in Ireland. In addition, we do not have sufficient prison accommodation, as evidenced by the more than 3,000 early release orders made last year, many of which clearly related to overcrowding.

We should actively embrace this technology and put in place the procedures to make it operational as quickly as possible. We should not be deterred because electronic tagging rather than GPS tracking is more readily available and is proven to work. It should also be borne in mind that offenders also benefit significantly. An offender, for example, could retain his or her employment and his or her relationship with his or her family. Above all, electronic tagging is a cheaper alternative to custody and it works. Perhaps my approach to the criminal justice system is very much rooted in practicality but surely such a practical solution should be embraced with open arms.

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