Seanad debates

Wednesday, 15 October 2003

Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Bill 2001: Committee Stage.

 

The purpose of this amendment is that humanitarian considerations, in terms of age and health, should be taken into account by the Minister. It is important that he would have regard to these basic elements in terms of his decision on whether to release a prisoner. To have that inserted would be in keeping with the previous subsection, where the Minister has to justify temporary release, for example, on grounds of health or for other humanitarian reasons. The Bill mentions later on "humane and just management of the prison concerned". Grounds of health has been acknowledged. Age or other humanitarian grounds should also be a consideration. The Minister has already acknowledged that those are factors in terms of the previous subsection in the Bill and they should also be included in terms of the subsection where he has to have regard to various things before making his decision. That would be a reasonable and humane way to deal with temporary release. I would have thought that should be current practice.

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