John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House. Like previous speakers I would also like to know the recommendations made by the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention for 2003 and 2004. Members should note that this is but one of 17 such reports received by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform since the Inspector of Prisons, Mr. Justice Kinlen, was appointed. As Senator Ryan articulated, the issue of imprisonment is complex. It is an area that draws conflicting opinions and varying academic comment. Looking at the basics, the Council of Europe's annual penal statistics survey states that the Irish prison population rate is 78 per 100,000 inhabitants. This statistic shows that Ireland is well below the average European rate of 141 per 100,000 inhabitants. Even a basic statistic such as this can produce conflicting views. Does it mean there is less crime in this society than in others? Is the justice system more lenient? Are the detention rates lower? Are the conviction rates low, or even too low?

There are even conflicting views on the fundamental question of whether imprisonment is effective in reducing crime. For example, the former head of the New York prison system, Mr. Michael Jacobson, was in charge of that service when prison numbers fell, while at the same time crime also fell substantially. He urges community-based prevention and non-jail alternatives for some breaches of release conditions.