Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

It is a matter of concern that four people are still at large and when they are returned to prison there will be consequences for them because, to a certain extent, it puts into question the entire system of giving temporary release on compassionate grounds at Christmas, which is a time-honoured practice. I would hazard a guess on their particular circumstances that, when considering any conditions that they might seek in the future, the fact that they absconded would have to be borne in mind. By and large over recent decades practice has shown that the vast majority of prisoners return to continue to serve their sentences. It is an issue we keep under review.

See this speech in context