Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure that we are getting this right. I agree with the objective but a person could be out on parole for several years and then may come across a situation or have an adverse relationship with an individual garda. That garda would have the power to arrest the person for something that is potentially not a criminal offence. I believe it is right that it is possible for a person to be rearrested for very many breaches of parole. It would be right to arrest the person in that situation and it would be the important thing. There must, however, be a cleaner way of doing this rather than making every single potential breach automatically a criminal offence. On that basis, I will oppose the proposed section by voice vote at this Stage and consider amendments for the Seanad.

See this speech in context