Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendmentNo. 104:

In page 31, to delete lines 3 to 47, to delete pages 32 to 34 and in page 35, to delete lines 1 to 14 and substitute the following:

"31.—(1) Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 is amended by the deletion of subsection (3B).".

As far as I recall, we dealt with mandatory sentences for drug barons last year, but we are legislating for them again in section 31. I do not know what has happened in the past year to necessitate these changes. Perhaps it merely shows we did not get it right last year. Again, my objection relates to the imposition of mandatory sentences in general. I have made my argument in this regard and will not labour the point.

My amendment No. 106 seeks to ensure a more precise definition of "young person". The Minister's amendment No. 105 is similar and it seems to meet my intention. My amendment No. 107 is similar to the one I tried to insert last year in regard to mandatory sentences. It proposes that judges should have to take into account certain mitigating and aggravating factors. I have argued my case on this issue before and the Minister knows my position.

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