James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask a supplementary question on the same matter. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to youth diversion programmes. As regards youths' encounters with the criminal justice system, however, is the Minister of State aware of the anomaly whereby, under the Children Acts, if a minor is charged with a crime but not sentenced until they pass the age of 18, they will be sentenced as an adult, whereas if that same case comes before the court before their 18th birthday, they will be sentenced as a minor? There seems to be an unfairness there. Two individuals having committed the same offence could have two totally different sentences, depending merely on the date on which the prosecution was in a position to run the case, outside the control of the victim, outside the control of the offender, outside the control of everybody bar, arguably, the State. It seems to be an unfairness and an anomaly in the system. Is there anything in progress to address that?

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