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

The more I hear from the Minister, the more I realise that a genuine and reasoned debate is needed on the issue of sentencing, with advice sought from experienced lawyers and others. A considerable difference exists between my approach to sentencing and the Minister's, who appears to use a smoke and mirrors strategy. He adopts a tough approach to mandatory sentencing while building the escape hatch of exceptional circumstances. Similarly, a tough approach is taken in this instance, in that a judge must apply a three quarter sentence for a second offence, yet the Minister accepts that judicial discretion must be allowed in terms of applying a lesser penalty for disproportionate circumstances. That fits into the same category of presenting a hardline argument and then opening the escape hatch.

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