Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has reviewed the proposals from Advocates for Victims of Homicide to end concurrent sentences for persons convicted of murder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21333/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The mandatory penalty for murder is life imprisonment. A sentence of life imprisonment means that the prisoner is subject to that sentence for the rest of his or her life. Such prisoners have no right to be released early at any stage. If granted temporary release the prisoner remains subject to the life sentence and can be recalled to prison at any stage. Accordingly imposing multiple life sentences, whether concurrently or consecutively, do not increase the severity of the sanction and have no effect in practice or in law.