Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Sex Offenders Act 2001 introduced a wide range of measures aimed at reducing the risk to the public from convicted sex offenders. These measures include the notification system, also known as the sex offenders register, the civil sex offender order, the provision of information for employment purposes and post-release supervision of convicted sex offenders by the probation service.

As the Act has now been in operation for more than eight years, the time is opportune for a complete evaluation of its effectiveness and that evaluation is currently under way in my Department. It forms an integral part of a major review of the criminal law governing sexual offences. The review takes into account the discussion document on the management of sex offenders and the views of interested groups made to my Department. I am also in favour of a greater approximation of the laws North and South of the Border, in particular on the operation of the respective notification systems, so that sex offenders will gain no advantage in living in or visiting either side of the Border.

It is likely that the evaluation of the 2001 Act will give rise to a recommendation for a substantial list of amendments and changes to it and when the review has been completed I will seek Government approval for the necessary legislation.

I am satisfied that the 2001 Act is operating well but that after eight years it is appropriate to consider whether it is possible to examine and improve its operation and to include in it further provisions to protect the public, in particular with advances in technology since the Act was passed into law.

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