Prison sentence management
Senator Ó Clochartaigh stresses that the key issue is management of the penalty, and the Leader says any ministerial concern lies with Prison Service administration rather than judicial sentencing; the Cathaoirleach welcomes Hugh Byrne to the Gallery.
A big issue for the Minister is the management of the penalty that has been imposed.
Comment on this
Again, I am mindful of the separation of powers, the Judiciary setting the penalty and having sentencing power and the Minister not having the capacity to intervene at that point. I do not think the issue here was the sentence but the management of the sentence by the Prison Service. There may well be a matter for the Minister in which case, it would be better dealt with as a Commencement Matter if it can be framed as a matter for the Minister in terms of management of sentence and management of the Prison Service.
