Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

It is important that we should consider this issue in a comprehensive way. It is not just a question of what happens when an offender who has served a prison sentence is released. It also relates to how we approach these matters in the context of the Prison Service. There is a particular need to ensure those convicted of sexual offences participate in whatever sex offenders programmes might be available and that such programmes are of a sufficiently sophisticated and diverse nature to meet the different needs that exist.

One of the items of legislation I hope to bring forward in the future will involve re-examining the circumstances surrounding the granting of remission to sex offenders and certain other offenders to ensure that, on the question of good conduct and prior to release, they participate in appropriate programmes. International research has shown that participation in such programmes reduces the likelihood of reoffending. There can never be a guarantee that someone will not reoffend. It is in such circumstances that there are other methods which are of assistance in dealing with certain matters. I refer here to the Garda monitoring those who are on the sex offenders register. In addition, electronic tagging has an important role to play in the early period following the release of a sex offender.

We will have a greater opportunity to consider and debate these issues in the future. I may be suggesting that a general debate take place in order that Deputies might have the opportunity to express their views and to make a policy input into the legislation we are going to develop in this area.

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