Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement of a strategic review of penal policy and that this will include sentencing policy. I commend again the issue of the need for consistency so that justice is done and is seen to be done. I do not necessarily seek a response now, but I urge the Taoiseach to ensure that the suggestion for a sentencing guidelines council and a permanent court of appeal will be included in the considerations.

I do not expect the Taoiseach to comment on individual cases, but as the Taoiseach said in response to a question I asked previously on this issue, we need others who are victims of crime, particularly these heinous, hidden crimes of a sexual nature, to have the confidence to come forward. The Taoiseach made a good case in appealing to people not to be put off that. We need consistency in sentencing so people know that not only will they have their case heard, but they will get justice in order to build that type of confidence.

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