What I've been saying (News, Blog and Media)

I have long believed in the importance of restorative justice processes as an alternative to prison. Currently the justice system is failing to deliver. It continues to lock up the poor and the vulnerable but it does not prevent crime or deter offenders. It does not address the root causes of crime and it does not manage to rehabilitate offenders very much either. Evidence of this can be found in the high rate of recidivism. The truth is that nobody benefits from crime, neither victims nor the community and under the current justice system the offender does not benefit especially if he or she continues to re-offend.

Rónán called for a debate about the issue of surrogacy on 12th March, 2013. The Seanad should not \"wait for the Governments\' proposals\" but should examine the topic itself in a detailed and careful manner. This was a very important human rights and child welfare issue, Rónán said.

The possible billing of 260 Galway City residents by Galway City Council for almost €5000 each was raised during a sitting of the Seanad on Tuesday 19th February 2013 by Independent Senator Ronan Mullen.

The extent of the challenges society around child protection, particularly in the Roscommon area, was startling and frightening, and if it is true for Roscommon then it is true for other areas also”. Senator Ronan Mullen was addressing the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. at a sitting of the Seanad on 13th February 2013 during a debate on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013.