Mary Henry (Independent)

We have a few. Some of my constituents are in prison, although I do not know about Senator Quinn's. They are in prison and other places of detention for serious crimes so why should they be given preferential treatment? Is it because they have a third level degree? Those in Mountjoy Prison or Portlaoise Prison were not in a position to vote. The governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr. John Lonergan, is correct, as he frequently is, to say the deprivation of liberty is the penalty people pay in prison. Those Senators who have been inside Mountjoy Prison, which is worse than most of our prisons, will understand that that is quite a penalty.

It is important for people in prison to become as involved as possible in normal activities so that the recidivism rate of almost 90% is reduced and people coming out of prison can make a better contribution to society. It would be much better if they were to discuss the merits of political parties than the various criminal activities in which they have been involved.

I am pleased with the provision and believe it is being implemented in the right way by means of a postal vote to a prisoner's original place of residence. As Senator Brady pointed out, many are from the same deprived postal areas, so it will benefit them to influence politics in some way. I wonder if prisoners will one day be able to stand for election, although I have not heard that matter discussed yet.

Senators should remember that many people are in prison in certain countries for political crimes. I am in correspondence with Dr. Berhanu Negga, who has been in prison in an African country for over a year. He visited this House last year and spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Woods and me. If the electoral process in which he took part had progressed as it should, he would now be the mayor of Addis Ababa, but he has been on trial since May this year. It is important to remember that people are sometimes imprisoned in countries where, without the democracy we enjoy in this country, they have to argue their case in such circumstances. I wonder what the situation would be if such people put themselves forward for election again. In other countries political prisoners have put themselves forward for election and it would do no harm to consider that possibility. I was pleased that Senator Ryan visited Dr. Berhanu Negga in Addis Ababa earlier this year, as did other Members of the Oireachtas. It is important to remember that not all members of parliaments are elected representatives or as fortunate as we, sitting in our comfortable seats today.