Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - Cases Involving Heroin Distribution.

Tony Gregory

Question:

180 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which State prosecutors in cases involving heroin distribution are instructed to ensure that the court is made fully aware of the consequences of heroin dealing for those who become addicted and to society generally particularly where those convicted are not addicts themselves but are motivated solely by greed; if he will ensure that the court is not misled by the usual pleas of coming from respectable backgrounds, supposedly getting lured into drug dealing by others and prison life would not be easy for them; and her views on whether such persons require very severe sentencing while those who become involved in crime through drug addiction require custodial treatment rather than long prison sentences. [4157/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The courts are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on decisions taken in particular, identifiable cases. I understand that the courts take into account a variety of factors in deciding on a sentence, including the nature of the offence, the circumstances surrounding the offence, the consequences of the offence, the circumstances of the offender, previous convictions, etc. It is for the courts to decide on the weighting to be given to such factors.