Madam, - Speaking at the Parnell Summer School, John Lonergan, governor of Mountjoy Prison, said there was "huge public support" for prisons but purely on a retribution and punishment basis (The Irish Times, August 16th).
In an opinion piece in your edition of August 17th, Dr Valerie Bresnihan pointed out that, in 2004, 1,000 of the 3,400 people in prison were there for failure to pay a fine "for an offence that the judge did not consider worthy of imprisonment but there was no suitable alternative community programme available".
While prison terms may be necessary for some people, especially those involved in violent crime, does the public really feel it is worthwhile putting a person who owes a few hundred euro in prison for a week at a cost of €1,500? Is there any evidence that he or she is more likely to pay for a TV licence in future?
The Government legislation programme for the summer session 2006, published by Tom Kitt, TD, Government Chief Whip has under the heading "Bills expected to be published from the start of the Dáil session up to the Summer recess 2006" a "Fines Bill" - to provide for the updating and indexing of fines and related matters.
This has been promised since 2004 and recommended by the Law Reform Commission but I have not been able to get hold of a copy of the Bill as of today. My hope and that of others is that this legislation will be brought forward as soon as possible.
The recent announcement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that there will be a reduction in the number of prisoners sent to Mountjoy is to be welcomed. The overcrowding there could be further reduced by addressing the ludicrous situation regarding imprisonment for failure to pay fines. - Yours, etc,
Senator MARY HENRY,
Seanad Éireann,
Leinster House,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.