Page seven of the programme for Government commits to the reform of sentencing for offenders. The Tánaiste will have seen the very moving vigil held by the Irish Road Victims Association outside the Dáil yesterday where 188 photographs of people who had lost their lives through reckless drivers were displayed. One of those photographs was of Marsia Lieghio, who was tragically killed in a hit and run on Fonthill Road in our constituency in 2005 aged just 16. Will the Government commit to bringing forward legislation to reform sentencing for offenders and will this legislation include a sentencing council that will provide guidance to judges as to the appropriate sentence for an offence such as this? Will the Government also commit to including the voice of families bereaved by reckless drivers in any such promised legislation?

It is important that the situation of victims is recognised. We will discuss the victims' legislation in the Dáil next week. This is important legislation that will bring us in line with the EU directive in order that the last point mentioned by the Deputy is dealt with. The Law Reform Commission also suggested that judges should be in a position to decide on a minimum term, although it did not suggest any particular period. I certainly will examine that to ensure that in law, judges will be able to set a minimum.

It should be, and the recommendation from the Law Reform Commission was that it would be, a decision for judges as opposed to a minimum mandatory sentence being outlined by Government. I support that position.