An independent member of the Seanad has called for alternatives to prison to be considered for women who commit minor offences.
Senator Ivana Bacik made the suggestion ahead of a seminar on the issue of women in prison to be held in Dublin this evening.
Senator Bacik said the Government should adopt the findings of a British report, published last year, which looked at vulnerable women in the prison system there.
It concluded that many women should not be behind bars and only the small number who commit serious violent crimes be kept in custody.
Most of the women involved were mothers, and the report found that many of them had been imprisoned for minor offences which caused stress for their families, particularly their children.
Baroness Jean Corston, the author of the British report, will address tonight's public seminar, which was organised by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice.
This afternoon, Senator Bacik and Baroness Corston are due to meet women members of the Dáil and Seanad.
