Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to renew my call for a pre-budget debate in the autumn that will consider the budget to come and the issue of austerity. The Tánaiste reminded us over the weekend that we are in the fortunate position of having the saving on the bailout deal that many predicted we would not make. Considering the comments made by Professor Ashoka Mody, formerly of the IMF, it would be worthwhile having a debate in the House to tease out the issue of austerity and the extent to which we can ease back on it in the coming budget in October. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on that soon after our return in September.

I welcome the publication by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, of the new fines Bill, which provides for attachment of earnings orders. This follows the previous government's Fines Bill, which aimed to reduce the use of imprisonment for those who cannot pay fines imposed by the criminal courts. We would all be hopeful the new Bill will have the desired effect. Unfortunately, the previous Bill did not and was not fully implemented. In the context of the new Bill, I call for a general debate on penal policy and prison conditions. We had a good but brief debate in the House on the Bill dealing with Cork Prison.

In recent weeks, we have seen reports by the Inspector of Prisons setting out some serious criticisms about our prisons. We also have the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on penal reform, on which I have been asking the Leader for a debate. I would like to have that debate early in the new term.

We will be debating the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 this evening, but there is an extremely tragic report in The Irish Timestoday of a woman who reportedly died in England, having had an abortion carried out there. That reminds us of the 4,000 women per year who have to travel to England for abortions from this jurisdiction.