Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In no way am I seeking to second-guess anybody. I have stated clearly the necessity of the separation of powers and the autonomy of the Bench. Neither do I believe, however, that we should second-guess the testimony of people who have come through the judicial system and the consistent message that they feel let down and that they have been failed. One of the victims in the case I set out to the Taoiseach said, "I was very angry. I thought I was fine but six-and-a-half years, seven-and-a-half years with one suspended, that is nothing [for] what he put us through." That is a brave and truthful testimony from this woman. We have entered an amendment to the Judicial Council Bill. I must correct myself because I misspoke earlier. I meant to refer to the Judicial Council Bill. The legislation, as currently drafted, allows for the circulation of information. We need more than that; we need a capacity to formulate sentencing guidelines. We do not need mandatory sentencing but, rather, guidelines which will give parameters to the Judiciary. Crucially, such guidelines will also address a real crisis in public confidence in terms of how the State, the system and the Judiciary regard these crimes and punish, or fail to sufficiently punish, them. Will the Taoiseach support our amendments?

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