The early release of prisoners is damaging public confidence in the justice system, according to the Democratic Left TD Mr Eric Byrne. Mr Byrne said prisoners were being released because of overcrowding rather than a "structured concept of sentence management".
He called on the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, to establish a parole board to oversee prisoner releases. Mr Byrne said a parole board could make greater use of non custodial sentences for minor crimes. He said the Government should abolish imprisonment for debts and the non payment of fines.