Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I put it to the Minister that there is currently a crisis in our prison system. As we speak, hundreds of criminals, many of whom have been sentenced to lengthy periods in prison, are now walking the streets. Gardaí state that offenders are being released early having served less than half of their sentences. This ties in to our earlier debate on gangland crime, drugs, mayhem and destruction on our streets.

The prison system simply cannot cope. Does the Minister accept that there are people serving prison sentences who should not be in prison at all and, on the other hand, there are people walking the streets giving the two fingers to the law having been convicted through the courts and given custodial sentences? Does he accept that the revolving door system has recommenced under his watch?

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