Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has acknowledged the work of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in this area and confirmed that the report and its 29 recommendations are receiving his full attention and consideration. I welcome his confirmation. There has not been extensive participation in the debate, but I thank my colleague on the committee, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and Deputy Louise O'Reilly who was deputising for Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire who was unable to attend.

I urge the adoption and implementation of the recommendations of the committee and point out that the report and its recommendations are the product of thorough, all-party and non-party engagement with key representatives of all of the major representative bodies engaged in or concerned with the penal system. It is the unanimous product of extensive deliberation. I record my thanks to all members of the committee for their personal attention to and investment of time in the process. I also thank the clerk and the staff of the committee for the backup and support they provided; they were greatly valued.

The matter is now in the hands of the Minister. I hope that when we next engage with him, as we did recently on general issues of mutual concern, he will report favourably on the adoption and implementation of the recommendations on penal reform and sentencing made by the committee. I thank him for his attendance and acknowledgment of the recommendations. I also thank the Acting Chairman for accommodating the debate

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