Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to be associated with the tributes to our dear departed Shane McEntee and with the expressions of sympathy to the McEntee family. We all knew Shane so well. My sympathies also to our colleague, Senator Deirdre Clune, and to Peter Barry on the death of her mother and his wife, Margaret.

I am pleased that on the first day back Senator O'Brien, as is his wont, led well. We are all singing off the one hymn sheet with regard to sentencing. I join in his call for a debate. Naturally, when dealing with this we are mindful of the separation of powers and the respect we all show for the Judiciary and particularly for Mr. Justice Carney, the most senior of the criminal Judiciary, because of what is being discussed and because of the number of cases of that awful kind that he must hear.

I know there are things people will not understand about guilty pleas, bail and so forth and as the judge said, the case being dealt with was at the higher end of the scale, but as there could be an appeal, we must be careful in what we say. Senator David Norris spoke very well on the matter. I did not hear the journalist who spoke on radio this morning, but, having listened to the Senator, it appears she made some very interesting points. We must, therefore, hold our breath and show respect for the Judiciary, but I ask the Leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the issue of sentencing policy.