Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I apologise to the House. I had intended to deal with that amendment when it was grouped earlier but I forgot to do so. While I recognise the intended purpose of the amendment, I think the amendment I have introduced to section 9, providing for account to be taken of the deductible period, already addresses the substance of this amendment. The implications of the amendment may not be fully realised. Paragraph (ii) might mean, for example, that a person who has served part of a sentence abroad in a country with a higher remission rate than applies here would lose some of the remission gained abroad. I do not propose to accept the amendment. It may not be as soft or as liberal as the Senator contends. In fact, it might be counterproductive.