Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Order Paper contains a motion regarding the construction of Cork Prison that will be taken without debate. I welcome the fact that a new facility will be built on a site that has been condemned for many years for its poor prison conditions by international and national inspectors. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the greater and more general issue of prison building and construction, particularly in light of the recent publication of a report on penal policy by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It recommended a reduction in the number of people imprisoned, the adoption of a so-called decarceration policy to ensure prison is kept as a sanction of last resort and only for violent and dangerous offenders, the development of non-custodial alternatives for offenders who are convicted of minor offences, and the implementation of the Fines Act without delay to ensure people are no longer imprisoned for the non-payment of fines. A welcome result of the motion tabled is the improved conditions at Cork Prison. However, I want us to debate the bigger picture of prison building, construction and conditions in light of the joint committee report. I have sought the debate before and I know the Leader is amenable to allowing it to take place. Perhaps he will arrange a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality in attendance before the summer recess.

The Bill to abolish the Seanad was published during the recess and we will debate it over the coming weeks. The Government side of the House has given a commitment to hold a referendum which I support. Personally, I am against the abolition of the Seanad and in favour of reform.

I will be arguing for that, as I always have done, and look forward to making those arguments during the referendum campaign. However, during the referendum campaign on the future of the Seanad, it will be important that both those who argue for and those who argue against its abolition will be respectful in the arguments. I am not in any way casting aspersions on any individual or individual party because some rather tetchy arguments already have been used. It is important that arguments are not personal and that one argues on principle about----