The Government says it will not oppose new legislation from Fianna Fáil that will reform the parole system.

The legislation will be debated in the Dáil later today.

While the Government has some concerns about the legislation, it has decided to accept it at this stage.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan, says there needs to be an end to the system where a minister decides who gets out and who stays in jai.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “We’re going to put the Parole Board, which at present is merely an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Minister, on a statutory basis.

“The second thing that the bill proposes to do is to take away the power from the Minister for Justice as the ultimate person who decides whether or not a prisoner gets parole or not.

“We think it’s inappropriate that a politician should have such a decisive say.”