Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hear what the Minister of State is saying about what the Bill is intended to do. I am sure he can appreciate that, as someone who cares about this area, I try to find any possible way into the conversation and to amend the legislation.

I wonder whether the Minister of State could explain a little more the reason the section in question has to come under the suite of measures. Logically, if a person has a minimum sentence, he or she has to serve a minimum amount of time before any form of release. If the person is given temporary release, it would fall under the minimum sentence arrangement in respect of the amount of time before the release date for which he or she is allowed to integrate into the community. I think that is the logic but I am not really sure. Is there a rationale for the temporary release provision? If the Minister of State cannot answer now and has to come back to me, that will be completely acceptable. I want to understand why the temporary release provision has to be included in respect of meeting the requirements under the sentencing guidelines. To me, it really is a threat to public safety to release somebody who has spent considerable time in prison. It does not benefit any of us, nor does it benefit the justice system.

I understand there are different types of temporary release, so maybe it is a matter of breaking it down even further into the types that somebody might or should have access to if he or she falls under the guidelines. Perhaps as part of the review and reporting, the Minister of State, his officials and I can engage further on how we uncouple the temporary release aspect from the rest of the sentencing guidelines in respect of what I dealt with in amendments Nos. 1 to 8. I hope that makes sense.