Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, made the point that prisons are filled with people who will not or cannot pay their fines. Senator Hayes's Enforcement of Court Orders (No. 2) Bill is on page 1331 of the Order Paper and provides for the making of attachment of earnings and attachment of welfare orders, something very much talked about by Senator Norris. I understand the fines Bill, which is sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is on the A list for publication. It provides for the updating and indexation of fines and related matters. Perhaps Senator Brian Hayes's Bill could be appended to that Bill because it relates to the same issue.

Senator O'Toole raised the matter we discussed at length yesterday, namely, the statement by the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley. If the mistaken way in which he pronounced himself and the debate we had yesterday in this House and in the Dáil results in a renewed focus on youth disorders, I say, "Well done". I do not mean in terms of what happened but if the ensuing uproar leads to that renewed focus, it would be welcome. We must wait and see what will come out of the budget on the disability area.

Senator Ryan raised the issue of prisons. I listened to the debate this morning on the UCD report and we are within the international norms in terms of the numbers of people who re-offend — 24% in one year and 40% in four years. We cannot do away with prisons. I gathered from much of the debate that there are to be no prisons but the Senators opposite——