The Debrief
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show. With Aviva Insurance.
Weekday mornings at 9. On Newstalk. Conversation that counts.
Let's go into the debrief if we can. I'm joined in studio here at the Republic of Work by Ralph Regal of the Irish Independent and Esther McCarthy of the Irish Examiner. You're very welcome both. Thank you very much for joining us. We're going to begin. Clare had this interview earlier in the week with this Metropolitan Police Detective, Peter Bleaksley. He was talking about a staggering lack of discipline that young people have growing up. And Ralph, his suggestion was that he would bring back the borstal.
What interview sparked the discussion about youth discipline?
Yes, and I think you have to consider his argument against the backdrop of what's actually happening in the UK. So you've got a significant increase in youth employment, unemployment, young unemployment.
Staggering figures, this guy.
Three in ten have a job. Yeah, you have a significant increase in violence within various categories in youth areas. And they have an awful case at the moment that has sparked this whole thing about, you know, punishment versus rehabilitation and the debate. A couple of teenage boys received a non-custodial sentence for two different rapes. in England, and it sparked an outcry from the families, obviously, of the victims, but also from politicians about youth justice. And as someone who spends a lot of his time in the courts, I mean, both the district court, the circuit court, central criminal court. I mean, there's a lot of arguments there about our victims rights and big justice for victims. Is it really given the weight in society as opposed to the rights of the victim and rehabilitation?
the cost of custodial sentences. And it's an ongoing debate. We're not alone in that in Ireland. I mean, you have it in the UK, you have it in the United States.
What are the statistics on youth unemployment and violence?
Certainly, there does seem to be a lack of respect, a lack of discipline, a lack of... understanding of a person's role in society so certainly there's a major educational challenge there but I think it's fair to say that the pendulum has gone from extreme impunishment like you know executing people for stealing an apple 200 years ago to the point now where You know, maybe there needs to be a greater focus on the punishment side of justice.
And Esther, one of the things that does annoy me is you will hear a report from a court of some young lad, because inevitably it is a young lad, who has done something egregious. Hmm. terrible that has resulted in an appearance before the court and we hear reference to the mystical Garda youth diversion programme as if they're you know standing on the end of the street to send them left as opposed to right and that is supposed to be based in rehabilitation and everything that's with it you know There are times when even liberal old me would go, he needs to be sent to a bar still. But we don't want to do that here, do we?
No, like my blood ran cold when I read this. I mean, we've seen what institutional abuse can do in this country. You know, Andrew was talking about sunscreen. I think it's like trying to put sunscreen on a sunburned like put the efforts in before it actually happens, put it into education, put it into youth clubs. There's nowhere for them to go. I'm not obviously talking about horrendous court case in England.
Yeah, but Borstal, everybody got sent to Borstal. That doesn't, like, you know, the rate of sending them to places like that was very, very high. I mean, there's a hint of this being a little bit like a lot of things in Britain at the moment. It used to be better in the Victorian times. And it wasn't, yeah. Oliver turned out all right in the end.
Like what he's arguing for the structure, you know, physical activity, learning a trade, like all these things, of course, but don't wait until they're so far through the system that it's no good. Do that when they need it.
Exactly.
You know what I mean? It's just a knee jerk reaction. I think we need to think better. And please don't bring Boris to this party.
We have moved away from it, Ralph.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:37
2
What interview sparked the discussion about youth discipline?
0:37–1:53
3
What are the statistics on youth unemployment and violence?
1:53–5:01
4
How does the justice system address youth crimes?
5:01–7:33
5
What arguments exist for and against rehabilitation in youth justice?
7:33–10:18
6
What is the current state of youth justice in Ireland and the UK?
10:18–15:07