Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I fully agree that incarceration is not always the answer. At the same time, we need to ensure that there are places in our prisons for those who commit offences. We also need to ensure that they know this. We have a great body of prison officers. They are some of the best people in our country. They work really hard and diligently on our behalf. I know many of them personally. We need to make sure the places in which they work are the best possible, are upgraded and not overcrowded. A fear people have is that they might see people going in and out of courts and perhaps not getting the sentences they should. That is a different issue. I want to ensure that there are places for those who are found guilty and to whom sentences are handed down. I also want to ensure that they remain in prison and serve out their sentences in full, particularly as they were found guilty, and that they will not be let out because we do not have the space for them.

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