Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The Fine Gael motion is a good one which I and my Labour Party colleagues support. It is a good idea that those appointed to prison visiting committees should have relevant expertise such as legal, medical, trade union, employment or education expertise. I would make an even more extensive list of relevant experience than that proposed by Fine Gael.

In reply to Senator Walsh I point out that a committee member would not require a degree. The relevant section of the motion refers to skills. People do not require a business degree to have business skills. I agree with the requirement that people would be from the local area. The Labour Party has been looking for that reform for some time. We do not want prison visiting committee members to only serve on them for the expenses. In terms of expertise and what people can bring to the committee it would be better if the members were from the local area with local expertise and an interest in the locality. What happens in a prison in Clondalkin, for example, will be of more interest to a person living in the area. One restriction that could be imposed is that people should not be on a visiting committee outside of their province. Then we would not have someone from a county such as County Kerry coming to visit a prison in Dublin.

The idea of advertising vacancies for committees is important. It is more open and would encourage people to consider becoming involved in this area. It also gives the message that it is a positive aspect of voluntary work in which to become involved.

Comments have been made about Fine Gael's motivation in bringing forward the motion. The party is being upfront and not saying its track record is better than anyone else's in this regard.