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

Like all of us here, I am not sure about timelines as to when we will have an election, but this work, I hope, will come to a certain point by the end of this year. Either way, whether there is something before or after, we are probably okay time-wise to make sure we have a government to be able to make changes if that is what is required to uphold any of the recommendations.

My understanding in terms of the suspended sentences is that, as regards the sentences overall, they are part of what is being looked at within that scope. Taking it out as something separate, which will apply to everything when the focus at the moment is on two particular areas, which will still include suspended sentences as part of that overall review, might detract from or deter what they are working on at the moment. As they expand, however, and obviously there are other areas they will look at beyond the two I have mentioned, that will also include, from start to finish, the suspended sentence element of it or potential application of a suspended sentence. I am advised by the Attorney General - and, again, having looked at all elements of the judgment and the fact that there were different views and opinions on it - that this is the right approach to take, ensuring there is that resolution passed by both Houses. That is the approach we are taking here, based on that advice. I have been reassured that is the appropriate approach to take. It takes into consideration all the statements that have been made and all the judgments as part of the Delaney case.

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