Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the points made by Deputy Pringle. A young fellow may find himself in a bad place, which sometimes happens, and unable to get out of it for one reason or another. As we are aware, this is not rocket science as most of the people affected bring many problems to the table. I do not really understand the rationale behind the idea that repeat offenders should be so penalised. If I were 20 years of age, from a troubled background, and could not get a job and I was stealing for a living, I would not steal once but many times. I might have robbed 20 houses over a four-year period and was convicted for them, and then got out and robbed another ten houses because things were not much better when I got out and I had no proper place to live and no proper support, and just could not find friends. I might have been caught and convicted again, but ended up in a more rehabilitative situation and really learned that I had to help myself as well and that I had to take a different approach when I got out because I did not want to be in there any more. Such people come out with a whole new approach after getting some help and having a bit of maturity on their own part. The idea we would continue to label them indefinitely because they have been repeated offenders and had committed crimes which are very unacceptable to society is very harsh and unforgiving, particularly if we do not give that person another chance in life. It behoves every human being to forgive others, no matter what we do. People can change, but it will not really work if we take a different approach to this fact as we will never improve these people. This is my feeling on it.

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