Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We also have people out on temporary release in order to relieve pressure on the system. Some of those are violent offenders. Last November, there were 4,641 people in prison, 126 more than there were beds available. The Midlands Prison was at 106% capacity and Clover Hill was at 110% capacity. We do not have space to treat people with dignity. People who are not treated with dignity they will not respect the system and will reoffend. That is patently logical.

We have too many people in prison who do not need to be there. The Minister of State mentioned mental health and addiction. There are far too many people in prison whose reasons for being there are not because of the offences they committed. Fundamentally, they are there because of the mental health or addiction challenges they have. We have to have a conversation about the number of people being sent to prison for four months. The governor of Mountjoy has told me and other Members that such sentences are a complete waste of everybody's time and it is impossible to run Mountjoy Prison on that basis.

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