Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I would also like to call for a debate on sentencing. I have listened to the points which have been made this morning. I agree with Senator Maurice Hayes that this is a societal matter. The issues which are at stake are more fundamental than the non-payment of small fines. Rehabilitation should focus on individuals and their families. We need to reflect on the future of the family in this country. Discipline is also important. We should examine how children are reared and how young people are brought up. This is a societal issue. It would be useful to have a debate on the wider issues in this regard. We called yesterday for a debate on the mental health of young adolescents. This is a similar problem. Many young people do not want to be in mainstream education. They do not want to obey any rules and regulations. We have a golden opportunity to examine the best way to rehabilitate such people. I welcome today's publication of the report on sentencing. It is a pity it was not published before the House debated and passed the Prisons Bill 2006 yesterday. Perhaps we would have had more to say about the Bill if we had seen the report in question. I support the call for a debate on sentencing.