asked the Minister for Justice if he has considered whether the reintroduction of the "cat" would help to curtail certain crimes of violence; and if he will give his view on the general question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Crimes of Violence: Reintroduction of “Cat.”
15.
Under the law as it stands the Courts are empowered to impose corporal punishment for certain crimes, including crimes of violence, and to prescribe the instrument though, in cases of an offender under the age of 14 years, the birch is the only instrument permitted.
I am not opposed to corporal punishment in principle. Indeed, I think that, for the protection of the public, it can be used with advantage against the type of criminal who uses violence against children and old people or who makes use of the bicycle chain and the broken bottle as a means to achieve his end, whether it be robbery or the maiming of somebody against whom he has a grudge.
Accordingly, I do not propose to promote any legislation which would take away from the Courts their present powers in this respect but to leave them free to impose a sentence of corporal punishment where the circumstances of a particular case appear to them to warrant it.