Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur totally with the views of the Leader and Senator MacSharry on the late John Carty, who served with us in this House and the other. He was a wonderful character; God be good to him.

I commend Deputy David Stanton and all the members of the justice committee on their wonderful hearing yesterday on community courts. It is a very good idea and has the total backing of the Dublin business community. I am sure all fair-minded people tuned in to what happened yesterday. Unfortunately, we were very busy in this House and many of us did not have the opportunity to witness the proceedings. I am sure Senator Bacik and some other members of the committee would have wished to have been present. I was very much taken by the view of Mr. Justice Michael Reilly, the Inspector of Prisons, who made some telling points. There was a spokesman from New York. The three previous mayors of New York have totally backed the concept. I will not say it has worked wonders in New York but it has brought about improvements. It puts judges in dialogue with the offenders, and reasonable arrangements are worked out. I believe from talking to those concerned that community courts greatly reduce the level of re-offending. It is well worth trying. The idea has the backing of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and I commend it to the House. It is worthy of the support of us all and I wish it well.