Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill, which is a good step forward. Senator Terry and Senator Walsh are right that we have to express our concerns for the victims of crime as they may have suffered grievously at the hands of the imprisoned person.

I was cheered by a point made by the Minister of State that when taking into consideration matters regarding temporary release, the Minister would examine the potential threat to the safety and security of the public should the person be released. This provision also ensures, following an amendment to the Bill in Dáil Éireann, that regard be taken of the views of the victim of the offence to which the sentence of imprisonment being served by the person relates. The only section of the Bill where the victim is mentioned is section 1(2)(d) where it states: