Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

Sex offenders represent approximately 8% of the country's overall prison population. Sex offenders cause huge concern to their victims and to the communities into which they are released. I was disturbed to read a recent article in The Sunday Tribune which proclaimed that Ireland has been a haven for 69 sex offenders since 2004. Is the Minister satisfied with the present legislation?

I welcome the Minister's announcement of a review but when will its findings be published? Is he confident that existing legislation is robust enough to deal with sex offenders originating from this country or abroad? What has he done to stop sex offenders from entering the country?

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