Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 37:

In page 25, line 22, after "prison" to insert the following:

"or designated centre (within the terms of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2003)".

In the case of amendments Nos. 37 and 38 I have pleasure in proposing them on behalf of Senator Henry. We are all agreed that the notion of giving evidence by video link is a positive development and that it should be used as widely as possible wherever the circumstances are appropriate. It would be ironic if some people who perhaps stood to benefit most from such an arrangement were to be excluded simply because the legislation did not apply to the place where they were detained. The Bill as it stands discriminates between two classes of detainees and I see no possible reason for discriminating in this way. I urge the Minister to accept amendments Nos. 37 and 38 as they discriminate on the basis of the place where somebody is detained rather than on the basis of the individual himself.