Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Ultimately, if a young person commits a crime he or she will be sent to prison. Plans are progressing on the provision of a new detention centre for those under 18 at Oberstown. How many prisoners who should currently feature in jail as part of the figures the Minister has given Deputy O'Keeffe are absconding? There were 401 absconding prisoners as of September as far as I can recollect. Is that still the number?

Why was a new circular issued by him to the Prison Service indicating that when people were brought to prison and arrested for non-payment of finds, they should literally be taken in the front door, their names and addresses taken and then released without ever being placed in a cell in order that they would not feature on the list of those on temporary release? Does the Minister agree that such an approach says to any person in this State on whom a fine is imposed with the alternative of a prison sentence that whether he or she pays it in full, partly pays it or pays none of it, there will be no consequences and he or she has complete impunity? The Minister's actions in this area have brought the criminal justice system into disrepute, they are a waste of time for the Garda, the courts, court clerks and the Prison Service and they are a total and utter disgrace.

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