Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I agree with Senator Bacik about the need to promote alternatives to custodial sentences, in particular for non-violent offenders. We should have a debate on such matters here soon.

Does the Deputy Leader agree that we are very good in this country at being part of the herd mentality and going along with issues when we should object to them and when it is too late, some of us play the blame game? We have seen this with the economy. Despite Deputy Joan Burton's valiant efforts on "Morning Ireland" this morning, I could not avoid the conclusion that when the hard questions needed to be asked, nobody was questioning how the economy was being run. People were quite happy to go with the flow of things.