Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Green Party is delighted to support this Bill. It was part of the programme for Government negotiations. I commend Senator Ruane. I am sure she is the first to admit that it is a positive, progressive step forward. She would probably like the sentencing thresholds to be even higher and to assist even greater r-integration. However, it is now on the Statute Book and we can always move amendments at a later date. Running through the veins of this Bill is a basic respect,to show dignity to everyone.

I remember, as a young barrister, when I was anxious to bring students to the prisons, I was met by the then Governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan. I was really impressed. He told the students at the talks: “we do not judge prisoners in here because a jury has already passed a judgment”. In the tours he was very strict. No young student could peer in a window during a prisoner's private time. They were told to stay away from the enclosed, private accommodation areas. We introduced an examination for prisoners. I believe that, at the time, it is was the first one. There was one rule when the barristers would come in for tuition. It was to stay away from their own case. We let prisoners know that there is a world out there apart from criminal law. We gave them tuition in family law for the first time, and in employment law. We eventually got to the stage where there was a graduation. I invited the late Mr. Justice Paul Kearney, who was a formidable, brilliant judge in the Central Criminal Court for many years. He corrected the essays for me that went with the multiple-choice questions. He presented the first prize in the class to a student, a prisoner who found herself in custody, to whom he had handed down a life sentence. That was amazing. There was a photograph of that private graduation proudly adorning Mr. Justice Kearney’s chambers for the rest of his career as a judge. He was so proud to see that. That goes to the very heart of what we are talking about tonight.

I could say more but I am conscious that the Minister is in the building. I do not want to take the Minister’s time. I will just say well done to all concerned. On another day, I would say that there is another cohort of people we want to consider, namely people who get acquittals. They might get an acquittal after a weak case collapses. They are not forgotten at the moment in Ireland. Unless it is relevant and unless there are good public policy reasons for it, why does it have to be dragged up many years later? They have the right to deny the arrest, charge, caution, and the whole trial, when they walked away with the presumption of innocence intact. Their lives can be turned upside down by it constantly being regurgitated, as innocent people they always were. This really hits home.

Senator Ruane makes all the Seanad proud. This translates words into action. We are delivering for some of the most vulnerable people. Everyone is entitled to a fresh start and a new beginning. This will help in substance. It is so vitally important. We 100% commend and support Senator Ruane in her initiative.