Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

The hands of the courts appear to be tied in the sense that justice and appropriate penalties seem to be restricted, even where it is plain to lay people that the punishment is not appropriate for the crime. Could the Leader find out if there is any way Senators or the Law Reform Commission could assess, investigate and hopefully improve legislation when it comes to dealing with the problems outlined by Senator Burke? He spoke about the transport element while I am talking of the legal element. We all read in our newspapers this morning of a case in Dublin yesterday involving a boy of 14 being fined €5 and banned from driving for one year. I am not questioning the judgment in this case, but the process and restrictions resulting in that judgment.