Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 5, line 25, to delete "6 months" and substitute "one month".

The effect of these sections is that we will not pursue people who have less than six months of their sentence to serve. We have often spoken of the integrity of our citizenship but if we are committed to preserving and securing the integrity of the courts and of sentences imposed, those who have unserved sentences must be pursued. I agree we do not want to spend resources, and expect other states to do so, chasing a person who only has a few days of his or her sentence left to serve but six months seems unduly lenient. These amendments propose that we reduce the length of time from six months to one month. Amendment No. 20 ensures that a warrant cannot be varied after it has been executed. I would like to hear what the Minister has to say, having considered the amendments.