Mary Henry (Independent)

With regard to debating reports, on Committee Stage of the Prisons Bill yesterday we discussed establishing the Inspector of Prisons as a statutory position. I expressed my disappointment to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that we had been unable to debate the report of the Inspector of Prisons even though the Leader had asked several times for such a debate in the Seanad. He said it was the business of both Houses what they did about debating reports and that if we debated all reports, there would be no time to do anything else. I refrained from pointing out that the Dáil had been adjourned several times recently because there was no business to be debated. There would have been plenty of time, therefore, to debate the report of the Inspector of Prisons in that House, if not here.

We should take up the suggestion made by Senator Brian Hayes. If a Minister is not available, we should simply debate these reports ourselves. These are important reports. I believe 98% of the reports we commission are never debated. We seem to think we have done something when we commission them, but we must examine them.

I support Senator Maurice Hayes's comments on mandatory sentencing for drugs offences. When we originally debated this provision I expressed the view that it was ridiculous. One issue was the price that should be calculated. Would it be the wholesale price, retail price, the price north of the city or south of the city? The bottom has fallen out of the drugs market. Prices are down approximately 50% due to the over-supply of heroin. Is the price calculation to be based on the price at the time the crime was committed or when the case comes before the courts? What is to be done? It was a ridiculous way of sentencing people because it would not necessarily affect the people who are profiting most.