Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was looking at this recently and the issue in particular relates to the especially heinous murders we know of, many of which have made headlines over many years. There are serious cases and in the past we have seen people getting life sentences but being released after 12 years.

It is not that terribly long ago since it was after even less time. It certainly did not equate to life and in some cases it was as low as seven years before people went before the parole board. This is an issue that many people have a problem with, particularly victims and families of victims of very serious crimes. The Minister also mentioned serious sexual assaults and cases of incest. These are very difficult issues of abuse where we need to look seriously at how long the sentences are and provide assurance to victims and families of victims that they are being looked after in how we deal with it. I looked at a number of cases, one of which was that of Adam O'Keeffe who was convicted of a vicious murder.

See this speech in context