Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have, as Senator Wilson said, a growing population. It has increased to 5.1 million from 3.9 million, as it was then. We have very serious crimes being committed. I am the first to say of any District Court judge who thinks it is remotely just to say to some young fellow who resists arrest or spits at a garda that he should go to prison that it is a stupid decision and that he or she is ruining that kid's life. I wanted every District Court judge who committed anybody to a short term of imprisonment to write out in his or her own handwriting why there was no alternative way of dealing with that prisoner-----