Shane Ross (Independent)

I thank Senator Norris for sharing time.

I wish to state how enormously relieved all Members, not least the Minister, are at the result of the case. To some extent, we are speaking in a vacuum because neither the Minister nor his officials know the grounds on which the Supreme Court made its judgment, whether this will be followed by a series of attempts by others to be released or whether the door has been closed in respect of those anticipated appeals.

The judgment is a great relief and will do a great deal to defuse the public unease which was undoubtedly and rightly stirred by the newspaper reports and photographs of rapists who would have been released on what is, after all, a technicality, albeit a strong one. It is unanimously agreed those involved should be locked up. The only reservation the public had in this case was that the individual involved was only locked up for three years and no one could understand why.

I have certain reservations about the Bill.