The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. Under our legal system, the law provides generally for maximum penalties for criminal offences. It also enables judges to exercise their discretion, within the maximum penalties, by reference to the conclusions they have reached after hearing the evidence and assessing the culpability and circumstances of the accused. The complex question of sentencing policy was addressed at length by the Law Reform Commission, which specifically recommended against the introduction of statutory sentencing guidelines. The report pointed out a number of differences of opinion among members of the commission in relation to some of the recommendations in that report which tends to underline the obvious complexities which arise in relation to sentencing policy.