Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I wish to address an issue to the Minister for Justice and Equality on the fairness and proportionality of sentences handed down in recent days. The courage of Lorraine Mulvey, the 41 year old woman who has spoken out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, has been mentioned. She was sexually abused and raped over a 12 year period. For that crime a sentence of six years was handed down. We must contrast this with the sentence handed down to the man who imported garlic illegally.