Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

No, it is not. In 2004, some 294 prisoners were released at Christmas, while in 2005, some 280 were released. The figure for 2006 was 230, while it was 138 for 2007. For 2008, it was 107 and for 2009 it was 174. The figures are reducing. Last Christmas, the number we released was just over half of what was released at Christmas 2004.

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