Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, who has had to step out for a few minutes. She will be back as soon as possible. We have to oppose this amendment because its effect would be to provide that a court could not have regard to a spent conviction in proceedings relating to similar offences. It would mean that when a person was being sentenced for an offence such as theft, dangerous driving causing harm, burglary or assault causing harm, the court could not have regard to a similar conviction which had been spent. We cannot accept such an amendment.

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