Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 47:

In page 17, line 1, to delete “information” and substitute “clear and accessible information and support”.

We are not just talking about people who are serving life sentences but about sentences over eight years. The statistics relating to mental health, illiteracy and many other issues among the prison population are frightening. The amendment is very practical. It was included in the original Bill in section 18(2)(b) and I have changed it only slightly. I am not sure why it was proposed to omit it on this occasion. My amendment stands, whether it is appropriate to deal with it now or whether it is to be bypassed. I am simply asking that people are given “clear and accessible information and support” in their parole application. The Minister's answer was that there is now legal assistance. However, given the population we are dealing with, and the statistics that have been highlighted, it is not unreasonable to ask for this to be included. The amendment would fit in very much with other sections of the Bill we discussed earlier.

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