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

As I said, I hope to publish the Bill in two weeks time. That will give Deputies time over the summer, if they wish, to read into this and look into the detail of it. A huge amount of work has been set out, but of course this will have to go to the justice committee. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny and of course, as is the case with any Bill, I will be taking on board all recommendations and engagements as it goes through the Houses. It is a crucial part of the criminal justice system. It has a substantial duty of care to prisoners and to staff. It plays a significant role in keeping communities safe through a rehabilitation-oriented approach to prisoner management. We need to make sure that we are looking at it from the point of view of reform but also that people receive a sentence that matches the crime they have committed.

A huge body of work is under way to look at penal policy in general. That will complement this legislation, putting it on a statutory footing. I can assure the Deputy that there will be enough time and space to debate this in the House as well as in the justice committee.

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