Any Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform must perform a difficult balancing act in operating a system of temporary release, weighing possible risks against possible benefits with the safety of the public always being of paramount concern. The prison modernisation programme in recent years is an important development in achieving this balance. The programme has largely resulted in the welcome closing of the "revolving door" system. With the pressure to relieve overcrowding in the prison system now gone, this allows for the operation of a controlled and structured system of temporary release. This Bill makes more transparent the criteria which should apply to the exercise of the power to grant temporary release and the considerations which must be taken into account in deciding on individual applications for temporary release.