Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. I, too, have many things for him to do. The previous Minister, a great enthusiast for prisons, initiated a very extensive prison building programme. We have now reached the top of the league in Europe in terms of many aspects of our penal system. For example, we have the highest throughput of prisoners in Europe, the highest recidivism rate – 89% – which is utterly astonishing, and the most expensive prison system. It costs more than €1,000 per week to keep a prisoner incarcerated here. We also have the highest proportion of under 21 year olds in custody. I am not enthusiastic about our position at the top of the league in all these areas.