Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta O'Callaghan as an obair dhian a rinne sé maidir leis an mBille seo, agus leis na daoine eile a thug comhairle dó.

I congratulate Deputy O'Callaghan on bringing forward the Bill. I expect it will be one of the first Bills to be passed by this Oireachtas. It will probably not be passed before the water charges legislation but it will possibly be passed soon after it. I look forward to it. It will be a significant achievement. There is much work to do between this and then. I am sure Deputy O'Callaghan is very much looking forward to Committee Stage of the Bill, as will other members of the justice committee. It will happen sooner rather than later, assuming Second Stage is passed to today.

Deputy O'Callaghan is doing something that was recommended a number of years ago by the Thornton Hall review group, which called for legislative proposals to be brought forward to establish the Parole Board on a statutory basis. It is important that the Parole Board be established on an independent, statutory basis and does not operate simply at the discretion of the Minister but does its job independently and well. We also think of the parole officers and staff around the country who do their work extremely well. We want to give them and the board independence. A body that can set free the most serious criminals must have its functions set down clearly and appropriately in legislation, which is not the case now. The legislation is extremely necessary and urgent.

When we think of parole, we make a connection with freedom or cutting sentences short. However, the Bill and the independence and statutory basis of the Parole Board is needed in order to give victims of crime reassurance. The Bill gives victims rights and supports that are necessary. It is not about the criminal but about having a proper criminal justice system that ensures people are punished appropriately and, while all rights under the Constitution are recognised, that the rights of victims are recognised in particular.

The Bill would create an obligation on the Parole Board to provide information that is accessible to victims and the general public about matters relating to people who are being released. These matters are often of great public controversy and little is known about how the system works. If there is legislation and a statutory footing, according to which the Parole Board must operate, rather than decisions being made by a Minister on an ad hocbasis, there will be more public confidence in the criminal justice system and how convicted criminals are dealt with subsequent to conviction.

Given the strength of the Opposition, the collective will of the House and the fact that the Government has supported the Bill, the numbers are such that legislation such as this is likely to be passed and become part of our statutory framework. I hope our friends in government and in the Executive branch understand the concept completely. The Bill will have to go before a committee within ten weeks. I am not sure how that will work vis-à-visany recess in August. It will be brought before the committee no later than September, or possibly earlier, given that the justice committee will have few items on its agenda when set up. It will have no backlog and this will be one of the first items on its agenda. It will require detailed analysis on Committee Stage. I would like it to have this careful analysis but for it to go through relatively quickly and return to the Dáil for Report Stage, which will not take too long, and then go to the Seanad where it will not take long. Then, it will be passed and we will have a new statutory body created by Opposition legislation. Some work will need to be done on this side preparing for Committee Stage and much work will need to be done by officials. I commend the officials who will have to do it and wish them well as they analyse the Bill. The Executive also has an important role in this. I commend Deputy O'Callaghan and look forward to the legislation being passed.

See this speech in context