Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----in working collaboratively on achieving important and necessary reforms that are not opposed by anyone.

I have spoken many times in support of the principle that is encapsulated in the Bill, namely, ensuring that a broader range of convictions may be regarded as spent convictions and lifting some of the restrictions in what is a highly-restrictive regime for spent convictions. Ireland came rather late to legislating for spent convictions. That was a matter of regret for many of us. I commend the work that has been done in introducing the Bill and ensuring it will progress with the Government's support. That last point is positive.

The Bill is part of a broader penal reform programme as highlighted in the work of the Irish Penal Reform Trust and others. All of us who are supportive of the Bill should be concerned about the rising levels of imprisonment that have been highlighted recently. A great deal of work has been done in the Department of Justice and Equality to try to move towards a situation where prison is a sanction of last resort. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality has called for the same. The Bill is an important part of that positive and progressive penal reform strategy, but we must ensure that we examine on an evidential basis why our imprisonment rates are increasing at a time when we are trying to move forward with a more progressive penal system generally.

I welcome the Bill and the amendments.