Fitzgerald defends policy on repeat burglars as FF calls for mandatory sentencing

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has been defending her policy on repeat offenders.

Minister Fitzgerald introduced a new act targeting repeat burglars which will impose consecutive sentences and deny bail.

She said it is further proof of Fine Gael's tough stance on crime.

"I brought in the toughest legislation that we've ever had to deal with repeat burglars," she said.

"I've brought it in, I've got it passed, and that means that it's going to be more difficult for those repeat offenders to get bail.

"It also means they have to serve their sentences consecutively."

However, Fianna Fail's justice spokesman Niall Collins claimed that mandatory sentencing is needed to deal with people who continue to carry out burglaries.

"We will introduce mandatory sentencing for repeat offenders, including burglars, and we've been very clear on that, and we've been saying that for a number of months now," he said.

"These people who are committing burglaries up and down the country, who are assaulting people, elderly people particularly who are living in their homes, will get a mandatory sentence."