End of "deadbeat dads"?

7sr2z3fely84g5

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-drennan/john-drennan-deadbeat-dads-under-fire-in-new-proposals-2672697.html

THE dependency culture of "deadbeat dads" who father children and then expect the social welfare system to support them has been attacked by Fine Gael backbenchers as frustrated elements of the party move sharply to the right.
New Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin, who stressed she was speaking in a personal capacity, wants to introduce national military service for all young men.
She warned against the unrealistic "culture of entitlement'' where people believe "if you are not working you are entitled to the same lifestyle as those who are employed".
Ms Mulherin is not the only Fine Gael backbencher openly challenging social welfare policy as tensions escalate between the Coalition parties over the painfully slow pace of reform.
A new, tough approach to social welfare entitlements is gaining ground within Fine Gael with many backbenchers saying action is required now -- and not just in the area of stamping out fraud, which has been the main policy of the Minister for Social Protection so far.
It comes as new figures show the taxpayer is now paying out nearly €1bn a year in illness benefit -- twice as much as during the Celtic Tiger years.
In 2005, when the economy was booming, sickness payouts amounted to €540m. Last year illness benefits cost the taxpayer €943m.
business page 1
A recent Fine Gael party meeting heard a number of radical proposals to fundamentally change the social welfare system.
The proposals included a call from one Dublin TD for "a cap on the amount of social welfare funding any one house or family can receive''.
A number of TDs also expressed their concern about the rise of "serial dads" who father large numbers of children and then, as one backbencher put it, "abandon them to a social welfare system that is far too quick to jump in and allow individuals to abdicate their personal responsibilities''.
One proposed solution to this issue, which was warmly received, was to limit payments to single mothers to two children and that any further children would not be the State's responsibility.
A number of TDs complained about a new "culture of entitlement'' among claimants. One TD noted that "in the past constituents would have asked: 'What are my entitlements?' Now they march into the office with a list of them and tell me to get them sorted".
Afterwards one senior party figure expressed reservations about the strident right-wing tone of the meeting.
He said: "It was astonishing stuff in there, the mood would not have been out of place at a convention of the Tea Party movement in America. There's a lot of young and not-so-young Turks in here. Poor Frances Fitzgerald (the liberal Minister for Children and Youth Affairs) was nearly crying and the jaws of a few more dropped too.
"These fellows won't be dictated to by Labour."
One of the strongest speeches was made by Ms Mulherin, who warned against a "culture of entitlement'' where people believe "if you are not working you are entitled to the same lifestyle as those who are employed".
Ms Mulherin slammed Fianna Fail for its policy on long-term unemployment where "the State threw a few crumbs at people in order to keep them quiet and at arm's length''.
Ms Mulherin also claimed that the newly unemployed were "finding themselves being lost and abused" when they enter the social welfare system. She also said that "fathers on social welfare who have children should be made to face up to their responsibilities by making a contribution to the maintenance of the child".
Ms Mulherin also said that to create a new ethos of citizenship "all young men and not just the unemployed should have a year of military service''.
It is believed an increasingly "agitated" top table attempted to calm the situation by suggesting that the current Social Protection Minister Joan Burton be brought along to address the party.
This, however, received a cool response from TDs.
A senior Dublin TD told the Sunday Independent that many of the young backbenchers forcefully "made it clear that Fine Gael was entitled to hold its own opinions and policies on social welfare reform''. Labour backbenchers were reluctant to comment on the apparent shift to the right on social welfare policy by a number of Fine Gael TDs.
That reticence may have been influenced by a leadership crackdown on perceived indiscipline in Labour's ranks. Concern was in particular expressed by the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, who sardonically thanked the party's TDs for their speed in ensuring the minutes of its meetings were available in the printed media so swiftly.
It was, however, also made clear to the erring representatives that the leadership would have difficulties "saying anything at party meetings" if a verbatim transcript of sensitive issues continue to appear in the newspapers the following day.

interesting to see how this will work out,could save the state money..

dave1982

so the kids have no mothers?

Surely they do! and the female must know she is the mother.

Yes its all Dads fault if the mother didnt spread her legs day 1

It would save the state money

pow wow

Reserve judgement til they tackle 'deadbeat mums'. Takes two to do the horizontal tango and all that jazz...

themadchef

Wont somebody please think of the Heineken :eek:

pragmatic1

Getting very right wing FG. But I agree that its not on having kids and expecting the state to pick up the tab.

mattjack

National Military Service...........watch your mouth Merkal......theres an invasion coming ..I TELLS YA........

themadchef

dave1982 wrote: »

so the kids have no mothers?

Surely they do! and the female must know she is the mother.

Yes its all Dads fault if the mother didnt spread her legs day 1

It would save the state money

pow wow wrote: »

Reserve judgement til they tackle 'deadbeat mums'. Takes two to do the horizontal tango and all that jazz...

They see me trollin'..........

Not taking the bait. Have a wonderful Sunday

Pauleta

I agree with capping the benefits for mothers to 2 children. Its a fantastic idea but it will be shot down by the left wing labour party. Its good to see Fine Gael are looking to address Fianna Fail's years of left wing social welfare system. The country is crippled by it.

silverspoon

All young men to complete a year of military service? Hmm. Not sure how relative that is to 'deadbeat-dad' syndrome. Of course, no suggestion of women having to complete any similar community service. I can see this being a suggestion consigned to gathering dust in the archives of the Independent and not much else.

johngalway

Meh - it's a very "rabble rabble" article with the language used. Wouldn't put a lot of stock in it as reported TBH.

silverspoon

mattjack wrote: »

National Military Service...........watch your mouth Merkal......theres an invasion coming ..I TELLS YA........

I think FG's suggestions are somewhat inspired by Germany who do have a system in place of mandatory military/community service for all young adults.

abouttobebanned

There will always be deadbeat dads and dependent children. Nothing fine
gael do can change that. Deadbeat dads, or "scumbags" as they're otherwise known are motivated by other things...they won't suddenly become fathers because they have to. Ultimately the only ones that will suffer
Will be the children.

pragmatic1

Pauleta wrote: »

I agree with capping the benefits for mothers to 2 children. Its a fantastic idea but it will be shot down by the left wing labour party. Its good to see Fine Gael are looking to address Fianna Fail's years of left wing social welfare system. The country is crippled by it.

The thing is, we also have an aging population and fresh blood is needed to support people when they retire.

dave1982

http://wine-scamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/helenlovejoy.jpg

Gary4279

One the issue of 'dead-beat dads' I think she hits the nail on the head. Having said that there are a lot of women who literally see their children as money makers. Free house, welfare, medical card, school uniforms, buggies ect...
However it can be difficult to tackle the entitlements of single mothers because at the end of the day its not the children's fault they were born into scum.

On the issue of military service for all young men. Hmmm......why only men I find myself asking. Perhaps this is a bit of feminism at work. All this would do is put men a year behind women. Ie. They would have to wait to go to university or to get a trade or job. If this were to be brought in I for example would have to quit my job and take a year out from college. This idea seems very fascist and controlling, definitely not something that would be suited to Ireland. I'd imagine Enda will be having strong words with his back-benchers after they strung together this pile of ****e.

As regard reducing the 'entitlement attitude' i'd have a few ideas.

1) Long term unemployed should have to do 2 days of community work per week. They have the other 5 to look for a job. The work would be thing that wouldn't get done in anyway like a bit of painting, sweeping, picking up litter, washing graffiti away.

2)Fas and the current welfare system need to go. We should have the welfare and employment body under one roof. When people go to get their welfare they must be able to prove that they have been looking for work. Ie get forms stamped at interviews, show emails sent to companies. I'm sure if this became the norm interviewers wouldn't mind stamping a form.

3)Anybody that refuses to work or look for work get cut off, simple as.

4)People on disability benefit or illness get assessed. Obviously not those who are clearly unable to work but the amount of people I see using bus passes that have nothing wrong with them is despicable, not to mention the old gem about the junkies.

dave1982

Gary4279 wrote: »

One the issue of 'dead-beat dads' I think she hits the nail on the head. Having said that there are a lot of women who literally see their children as money makers. Free house, welfare, medical card, school uniforms, buggies ect...
However it can be difficult to tackle the entitlements of single mothers because at the end of the day its not the children's fault they were born into scum.

On the issue of military service for all young men. Hmmm......why only me I find myself asking. Perhaps this is a bit of feminism at work. All this would do is put men a year behind women. Ie. They would have to wait to go to university or to get a trade or job. If this were to be brought in I for example would have to quit my job and take a year out from college. This idea seems very fascist and controlling, definitely not something that would be suited to Ireland. I'd imagine Enda will be having strong words with his back-benchers after they strung together this pile of ****e.

As regard reducing the 'entitlement attitude' i'd have a few ideas.

1) Long term unemployed should have to do 2 days of community work per week. They have the other 5 to look for a job. The work would be thing that wouldn't get done in anyway like a bit of painting, sweeping, picking up litter, washing graffiti away.

2)Fas and the current welfare system need to go. We should have the welfare and employment body under one roof. When people go to get their welfare they must be able to prove that they have been looking for work. Ie get forms stamped at interviews, show emails sent to companies. I'm sure if this became the norm interviewers wouldn't mind stamping a form.

3)Anybody that refuses to work or look for work get cut off, simple as.

4)People on disability benefit or illness get assessed. Obviously not those who are clearly unable to work but the amount of people I see using bus passes that have nothing wrong with them is despicable, not to mention the old gem about the junkies.

tl.dr

Chinasea

I'm all for it - we seem to be the last European country standing with ludicrous statistics -


Highest birth-rate in Europe


Exceptionally high amount of claimants on dubious "disability benefit".

Streams of generations happy to inherit the 'long term unemployed label' and all the benefits that go with this 'easy lifestyle' even when the country was booming with co-dependent alcohol and drug addiction dysfunctional life styles burdening the tax payer for evermore.

I doubt if this issue will be tackled - it will get debated, then some journalist will write an article exposing the folly of some mother with 7 children, 3 different missing dads, free house, free extension, to be promptly counter argued by Vincent Brown championing the ‘alleged’ under dog from his ivory tower and it will end up being yet another thread on boards or Joe Duffy that will just peter out and the dysfunctional circle will continue.

abouttobebanned

dave1982 wrote: »

tl.dr

Why bother?

omahaid

Chinasea wrote: »

I'm all for it - we seem to be the last European country standing with ludicrous statistics -


Highest birth-rate in Europe


Exceptionally high amount of claimants on dubious "disability benefit".

Streams of generations happy to inherit the 'long term unemployed label' and all the benefits that go with this 'easy lifestyle' even when the country was booming with co-dependent alcohol and drug addiction dysfunctional life styles burdening the tax payer for evermore.

I doubt if this issue will be tackled - it will get debated, then some journalist will write an article exposing the folly of some mother with 7 children, 3 different missing dads, free house, free extension, to be promptly counter argued by Vincent Brown championing the ‘alleged’ under dog from his ivory tower and it will end up being yet another thread on boards or Joe Duffy that will just peter out and the dysfunctional circle will continue.

I wouldn't see the bolded part as a bad thing necessarily. My understanding is that a lot of european countries will have problems in years to come due to the fact that there will not be enough people to sustain the older generations.

CDfm

I think the term Deadbeat Dad is a cliche and is used in a very blasse way in politics. Not only is it a cliche but its a perjorative term and should cause the same upset that feminazi does.

I did see a report by the Department of Social Welfare on the issue a few years back and wish I had kept a link because it suggested that the incidence in Ireland is very low.

So if it is the case in Ireland someone should produce the figures as I do not know any "deadbeat dads".

An issue is the constitutional right of women to be stay at home Mums.
That is the issue that the Germans have where our single mums have a better benefit structure than theirs and we are a financially bankrupt country.

An issue for the parties with the rise in Labours and Sinn Feins vote is that young men are also a demographic and could be tapped in a populist way.

desertcircus

Chinasea wrote: »

I'm all for it - we seem to be the last European country standing with ludicrous statistics -


Highest birth-rate in Europe


Exceptionally high amount of claimants on dubious "disability benefit".

Streams of generations happy to inherit the 'long term unemployed label' and all the benefits that go with this 'easy lifestyle' even when the country was booming with co-dependent alcohol and drug addiction dysfunctional life styles burdening the tax payer for evermore.

I doubt if this issue will be tackled - it will get debated, then some journalist will write an article exposing the folly of some mother with 7 children, 3 different missing dads, free house, free extension, to be promptly counter argued by Vincent Brown championing the ‘alleged’ under dog from his ivory tower and it will end up being yet another thread on boards or Joe Duffy that will just peter out and the dysfunctional circle will continue.

Any source for the claim that huge numbers of people are illegally claiming benefit? Or a cogent explanation linking our high birth rate to our social welfare system, instead of, say, a collapse in Catholic attitudes to sex before marriage over the past twenty years? Or even the proportion of fertile to infertile ages in Ireland's population compared to Europe? After all, Ireland's median age is 34.8 years, compared to France's 39.9, Germany's 44.9 (a full decade older), and the UK's 40. Even Spain, which is close behind us for fertility, has a median age of 40.5 years. Focus on female median ages (probably the best predictor for fertility) and it's even more stark.

We have a population that's younger, so of course our birthrate will be significantly higher. Half the women in Germany are either already in menopause or rapidly approaching it; in Ireland at least half the women have another decade to go before it arrives. But of course our high birth rate is nothing to do with the fact that we have far more women of childbearing age in our population and everything to do with those damned leftists and those scum on the dole who are just parasites.

Congratulations: on the basis of no actual evidence, you ignored a perfectly reasonable explanation for a statistical quirk and decided to judge huge numbers of people as being grasping scum.

Coriolanus

Of course they'll have to provide mandatory paternity tests. And then we get to laugh when everyone finds that the rate of child resulting adultery in Ireland is probably about the same as the average of 10%.

I do agree with a national service though. Do it like Germany, if you don't want to join the army, you can do social service or something. But women should have to do it too.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

National Military Service? What exactly are we going to do with this new army we'll have, start a war?

Cavehill Red

This Mulherin person is turning out to be a right little fascist, isn't she? I've heard nothing from her that would be out of place in a speech by Mussolini or David Dukes so far.

Tazz T

Military service for young men. What about 'women', Michelle? Wouldn't want them missing out on the action either.

Coriolanus

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

National Military Service? What exactly are we going to do with this new army we'll have, start a war?

I think we could probably take some of those islands nations in the pacific.

Kasabian

Tazz T wrote: »

Military service for young men. What about 'women', Michelle? Wouldn't want them missing out on the action either.

They'll all be an Army training fornicating and that justs defeats the purpose. Keep young men and women apart, it's the only way this will work.

Fukuyama

National Service. Seriously?

I'd be fully prepared to go to prison in objection to being forced to join an Army when there is no war to fight.

If I ever have to join an armed organisation it'll be of my own accord and based upon by own political motivations.

thebigbiffo

Although the article's a bit sensationalist the overall jist of it is true. Something needs to be done about the 'deadbeat' culture, not 'deadbeat dads' in particular. It's fairly staggering sometimes to see how people milk the system - men and women included - and a fairly common way to do this is for the woman to get the house and the benefits and the dad just moves in an hopes there's not an inspection...which are few and far between. But the woman is just as much to blame here. The system is screwed in places and needs changing.

If you're out of work long term and claiming the dole you should be working in the community, end of story.

I wouldn't really disagree with the years military service for men as long as there's an equivalent for women. Shure wouldn't the young fellas have the craic anyway - sneaking out to try for the ride and all that.

sophia25

Ok people are complaining about too many deadbeat parents and at the same time say national service should be introduced for women as well as men. Obviously mother's (or primary carers) would have to be excluded from any compulsory service, so introducing this would lead to a massive increase in childbirth methinks! A year of national service, or a baby??? Well if people think single mothers are already doing this for their life of luxury, can you imagine what giving them another 'get out of jail':P pass would do!

Pauleta

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney

Go to prison - Get a free TV


We are so liberal, its sickening.

bmarley

About time too, how can the country continue to support single parent families in the way they have been doing - make parents responsible for their offspring.

metrovelvet

Why does a neutral country need manditory military service, the US doesnt even have that, and who is going to pay for that? Militaries cost money- I guess she wants a bigger defense budget and a smaller SW budget.

Aidric

themadchef wrote: »

Wont somebody please think of the Heineken :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snhiofL2Rh4

suicide_circus

We need to make social welfare dependency a much less attractive career choice. And make no mistake, this is an actually choice that thousands of our "deprived" young people make every year.

ilovelamp2000

Dean0088 wrote: »

National Service. Seriously?

I'd be fully prepared to go to prison in objection to being forced to join an Army when there is no war to fight.

If I ever have to join an armed organisation it'll be of my own accord and based upon by own political motivations.

Prisoners probably have a more comfortable life than members of the Army

suicide_circus

Pauleta wrote: »

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney

Go to prison - Get a free TV


We are so liberal, its sickening.

+1000000

We, Irelands tax payers, are a ridiculously soft touch, terrified of being seen as unPC, sure you cant really blame the shytehawk leeches for taking advantage.

EverEvolving

Pauleta wrote: »

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney

Go to prison - Get a free TV


We are so liberal, its sickening.

It's hardly 'so' liberal supporting the less well off in society. Your post makes you sound so hard done by.

All the points you referred to there are hardly the ideal lifestyle for the majority of people and I could go through each one and point out why it's not, but then it wouldn't sound sensationalist and you I'm sure you know why already.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Pauleta wrote: »

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money You don't get a free house. A single mother may be entitled to a council house but the primary consideration of the council is need rather than marital status or the like.

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass What?

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card Have a drug problem or even get caught with a tiny amount of drugs for personal use- go to jail. And I think the consideration shown by judges for peoples past or circumstances is often exaggerated.

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney Enter the country legally as an asylum seeker- Stay in an overcrowded former holiday camp, and face being moved to another centre at short notice separating you from friends and possibly family

Go to prison - Get a free TV Admittedly our prison system is quite lenient but I'd prefer to American-style prisons.


We are so liberal, its sickening. Misuse of the word liberal.

.

Jesus Wept

Ms Mulherin can smell my helmet. National military service - GTFO you fascist sexist fool.

Pauleta wrote: »

interesting to see how this will work out,could save the state money..

Save the state money by putting children into potentially dangerous poverty as opposed to other children in the welfare system.

These articles are getting beyond retarded, watching people's logic being ridden and controlled so easily is seriously tilting.

Zebra3

Do FG have any plans to get rid of dead beat politcans (past and present) who leech off the taxpayer? :rolleyes:

RichieC

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

.

When Pauletta says liberal she means Yank liberal. which means hippy.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

RichieC wrote: »

When Pauletta says liberal she means Yank liberal. which means hippy.

I'm aware of that. An entire country is misusing the word, and a lot of people besides.

Pauleta

RichieC wrote: »

When Pauletta says liberal she means Yank liberal. which means hippy.

I really need to change my username. Its the 2nd time in a week somebody thought i was a girl :pac:

sock puppet

Pauleta wrote: »

We are so liberal, its sickening.

We aren't in Yankland. Liberal does not mean left wing.


edit: oops too late.

Minstrel27

Will Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin tell us why it is only men that will be doing the military service? Stupid sexist nonsense that will rightfully be thrown into the bin.

desertcircus

Pauleta wrote: »

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney

Go to prison - Get a free TV


We are so liberal, its sickening.

1: You're a newborn baby who's homeless? Who cares? Not us: we'll let you rot to teach theoretical future mothers a lesson. Evidence? Nah, we're not into that.

2: Wait, what? Where's the section of the Dublin Bus website where you apply for the junkie card?

3: Suffering from addiction issues? We'll lock you up somewhere where you're better off taking heroin than booze instead of trying to treat you and help you become a productive member of society. Victim of brutalising abuse as a child? Who gives a rat's ass? It's not as though being abused as a child has any psychological impact in later years.

4. Escaped from a country where you were at risk of losing your life? Here's nineteen euro a week. No, we know that's a ludicrous sum of money. And you can stay in a locked facility miles from anywhere. What's that? You want to work in order to avoid being a burden on the state? Hell no. If we even catch you working, we might send you home out of spite, no matter whether your ethnic identity will see you shot on sight.

5. Evidence? Or some sort of explanation as to why it doesn't make sense to give prisoners something to do that keeps them reasonably calm? You know, to avoid riots and stuff? And to make sure that released prisoners have at least some understanding of some of the changes in the world outside?

The fact that some people see this as pandering to liberalism is sickening.

dlofnep

Can we conscript Mulherin instead? Shut her and her sexist, archaic nonsense up.

Pauleta

desertcircus wrote: »

1: You're a newborn baby who's homeless? Who cares? Not us: we'll let you rot to teach theoretical future mothers a lesson. Evidence? Nah, we're not into that.

Should of used a condom. Your mistake, you pay for it. Most of these people have places to live. With a lot of girls they are living at home, they have 2 kids and then they get a house. They have a roof over their heads so its their own and their parents problem. If you are knocked up and living in a homeless shelter, then the state should help out with a nice shiney new house in a ghost estate.

2: Wait, what? Where's the section of the Dublin Bus website where you apply for the junkie card?

If you get bus regularly you can see this. They all have disability cards. Apparantly a life style choice passes as a disabilty now a days

3: Suffering from addiction issues? We'll lock you up somewhere where you're better off taking heroin than booze instead of trying to treat you and help you become a productive member of society. Victim of brutalising abuse as a child? Who gives a rat's ass? It's not as though being abused as a child has any psychological impact in later years.

People use addictions as an excuse in courts. It shouldnt be allowed. You can kick the head off somebody and say you did it because you were drunk and the judge would be more leniant.

4. Escaped from a country where you were at risk of losing your life? Here's nineteen euro a week. No, we know that's a ludicrous sum of money. And you can stay in a locked facility miles from anywhere. What's that? You want to work in order to avoid being a burden on the state? Hell no. If we even catch you working, we might send you home out of spite, no matter whether your ethnic identity will see you shot on sight.

If these were people from the UK or Iceland i would say ok but illegal immigrants pass through many countries to get here. Just say we have an Iranian asylum seeker. He would pass through Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France and the UK to get here. Cmon Man :pac:

5. Evidence? Or some sort of explanation as to why it doesn't make sense to give prisoners something to do that keeps them reasonably calm? You know, to avoid riots and stuff? And to make sure that released prisoners have at least some understanding of some of the changes in the world outside?

The fact that some people see this as pandering to liberalism is sickening.

The prisoners can read and write or play eye spy. Prison aint suppose to be fun. Getting a TV is pisstaking. If they are acting unlruly then they can stay in their cells.

RichieC

Pauleta wrote: »

I really need to change my username. Its the 2nd time in a week somebody thought i was a girl :pac:

haha, sorry, I seen the "eta" and assumed.

Jesus Wept

Pauleta wrote: »

I agree with capping the benefits for mothers to 2 children. Its a fantastic idea but it will be shot down by the left wing labour party. Its good to see Fine Gael are looking to address Fianna Fail's years of left wing social welfare system. The country is crippled by it.

Pauleta wrote: »

Have sex without a condom - Get a free house and free money

Start taking heroin - Get a free bus pass

Have a drink/drug problem or a "troubled" past - Get out of jail free card

Enter the country illegally - Holiday trip to Mosney

Go to prison - Get a free TV


We are so liberal, its sickening.

Pauleta wrote: »

Should of used a condom. Your mistake, you pay for it.

No, the child pays for it.

Pauleta wrote: »

The prisoners can read and write or play eye spy. Prison aint suppose to be fun. Getting a TV is pisstaking. If they are acting unlruly then they can stay in their cells.

The rate of imprisonment in Ireland is 101 per 100,000.
The rate of imprisonment in the USA is 743 per 100,000.


Obviously the U.S system isn't acting exactly as a deterrent, nor is the Irish system. Taking away tv's from Irish prisons isn't going to reduce the crime rate or the incarceration rate.