Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to emulate other Members. I welcome the passage of the Parole Bill. It is important legislation and it will be of benefit to the criminal justice system. It will be of particular assistance to the victims of crime who now will know when persons who perpetrated crimes will be eligible for and be able to apply for parole. The victims of crime will now also be able to make submissions in respect of parole applications. I also think it is beneficial for prisoners who are applying for parole because they can now see in statutory form the process by which they can seek parole. As I indicated earlier, it is a complicated matter that involves balancing the rights of the victims of crime on the one hand with on the other hand the entitlement of people who are in prison to seek parole. The purpose of prison is twofold; punishment and rehabilitation, and both of them need to be balanced. I believe that is what a good parole board will do. I know that the Parole Board that has existed on a non-statutory basis to date has done that.

I thank my party, Fianna Fáil, for giving me permission to put forward this legislation. I thank the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Government for agreeing to accept it. I thank the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and his predecessor, Frances Fitzgerald, in respect of it. I thank Sinn Féin and the Labour Party. I also thank the Independents for their support for the Bill, in particular former Deputies, Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, who are elsewhere, and Deputy Connolly. It is worthwhile legislation. It is legislation of the House not of any one person and it will be of benefit to the criminal justice system. I hope it can find its way promptly through the Seanad.

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