The Minister for Justice said too many people were being sent to jail for minor offenses in the district court.
Simon Harris told RTÉ this week that there was a need to assist county court judges in the sentencing options available to them.
“I have spoken to district court judges during my tenure in terms of the suite of options available to them,” he said, reports RTE.
However, the minister defended plans to increase prison capacity to tackle overcrowding.
He said increased capacity was needed to modernize prison facilities and also to recognize that people for heinous crimes had to serve longer sentences.
“I believe there are some heinous crimes for which people are not receiving long enough sentences. I’ve been working on a policy around minimum tariffs, which means if you do carry out a heinous crime like a murder or child sex abuse that a judge can set a minimum tariff before you can be eligible for parole,” the minister said, reports RTE.
Secretary Harris said he would hold another meeting with government colleagues this week to reach agreement on legislation on Gardaí’s use of body cameras and facial recognition technology.
“What we’re talking about is how you could use facial recognition technology in retrospective situations for things like online child abuse, to help find heinous criminals quicker,” he said, reports RTE.
The minister said facial recognition technology will not be used alongside body cameras worn by guards in live situations.
Dála MPs in Fianna Fáil and the Green Alliance have expressed concern over the use of facial recognition technology.
Secretary Harris said he would like discussions with government colleagues on the issue “conclude urgently,” reports RTE.
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