Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a balance with restorative justice and making sure we are focused on trying to reform people, particularly where heinous crimes have been committed. At the same time I believe the punishment should match the crime. This is why I want to give greater discretion to judges. We have also seen changes in recent times for burglary. The maximum sentence is 14 years but for aggravated burglary someone can serve up to life in prison. There are also mitigating factors and repeat offenders. In 2015 we saw changes to the Act, including that bail could be refused. The Judicial Council has established a sentencing guidelines committee. Its first area of work will be on sexual assault. Various areas are being looked at with regard to sentencing, while not forgetting we have a reform programme and a penal policy we need to develop. This is about community involvement and engaging with people, acknowledging the fact that approximately 70% of people in prison have mental health or drug or alcohol problems. There are two sides to this. In the most heinous of crimes, judges should have discretion to impose a more severe sentence and make sure victims and families of victims are not put through the trauma of having to deal with something after 12 years, which is a relatively short period of time.

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