Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It all depends. Tribunals can have a number of members or just one member. For instance, at present the Refugee Appeals Tribunal has one member. Other appellate bodies have a number of persons in them.

The real point is that this is where a prisoner could be appealing, for instance, a forfeiture of a remission, which could be a quarter of the prisoner's sentence. If that were to happen, let us be under no illusion that it is not a minor but a significant matter. If it were to happen, I would like to have the confidence at least that whoever would make the decision would know the law, or at least could be presumed to know the law, and would be somebody who would have had experience of seeing the law administered and of participating in the administration of justice. That is why I am doing this. It is not to give jobs to my friends or anything like that. It is purely because I strongly believe that it involves something of such importance to a prisoner.

As Senator Cummins will appreciate, the term of imprisonment of a prisoner sentenced to ten years is reduced by a quarter if he or she behaves properly.