Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 37:

In page 104, subsection (6), line 11, to delete "is participating, and it shall ensure, as far as practicable," and substitute the following:

"ordinarily participates, and it shall ensure, as far as is practicable,".

Section 101 contains an important proviso that will allow an offender to complete a course of training or education before being made subject to a restriction of movement order. Subsection (6) allows this delay to be spread over a maximum of six months. I see no reason it cannot be extended to over a year since that is usually the maximum period for the duration of a course. Many courses last more than six months and will mean some offenders could be forced to leave them. I hope the Minister will see the value of allowing offenders pursue such courses by virtue of the fact that proviso is already contained in the Bill.