Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell about a debate on sentencing. Members of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality went to Stormont as part of deliberations leading to the committee's positive recommendations on Garda oversight. We met the justice committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly for an interesting discussion. The chief justice comes before that committee on an annual basis and explains the rationale behind sentencing. Members of the Oireachtas committee asked about the separation of powers and the response indicated that if issues arose that could not be discussed, the chief justice said so. That is an excellent suggestion for the House. The Committee on the Procedure and Privileges could consider inviting the Chief Justice to make a statement to the House and have a discussion on justice issues and the rationale and thinking behind sentencing. It would be a useful exercise and is appropriate to Seanad Éireann. It could be considered for the autumn.

I agree with the call by Senator Noone for caution in respect of water safety during the fine weather. It is a splendid country at the moment, people are enjoying themselves and thousands of tourists from all over the world are enjoying the fine weather. I pass on my sympathies to the families that have lost loved ones as a result of drowning and I call on people to be careful and cautious and to treat water with the respect it deserves. I also appeal to people to bring home their rubbish from the beach and not to leave it there. We have beautiful beaches but they are being destroyed every day by people leaving rubbish there. It is not too much to expect people to bring home rubbish and not have local authority workers, who do a fantastic job, working at 6 a.m. needlessly cleaning up rubbish.