Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the matter of charging and sentencing in the criminal justice system. I am quite concerned about the practice of a charge of manslaughter continually being put when the evidence and circumstances suggest an offence of murder has taken place. I can understand how this happens as when the death sentence applied, a jury would have been loath to find somebody guilty of murder. It seems we now regularly see cases that are clearly identified as murder but the State is willing to accept a charge of manslaughter instead. This is worthy of a debate and I hope we can find some time in the near future for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come here for a debate on sentencing, especially in criminal areas. It is worthy of a discussion and although it may not be urgent and it does not sound very friendly, there are many cases in which a charge of murder should be pressed but a manslaughter charge is substituted.

I fully support the idea that we should have a debate on fracking but I do not support the belief that fracking is automatically bad and should not take place. The use of fracking for oil in America has been a major boon with practically no instances of problems. It is worthy of discussion and I therefore support Senator MacSharry and Senator Mooney in that I would like to see a debate in the near future.