Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State indicated that it is standard legal practice to provide for the imposition of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years. However, the amendment changed the meaning of the original text, which provided for a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years. Is the inclusion of that penalty not also standard practice?

I share the view expressed by previous speakers that we must ensure the penalty is a term of imprisonment and the imposition of a fine is not an option. The withdrawal of a person's freedom is the minimum that should be experienced by the perpetrator of this heinous crime. Victims groups are driven mad by the sentencing that involves fines. How many times, following the handing down of inappropriate sentences for serious sexual offences, have Senators argued that the punishment did not fit the crime? We are of one view on this issue. The Bill gives permission for fines to be imposed. I ask the Minister of State to revisit this issue. Why did the amendment reduce the sentence?