Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The main purpose of the spent convictions legislation is to give people a second chance. We have had very careful consideration of which offences should go into the first tranche of the legislation.

4 o’clock

Clearly, there is an emerging debate in respect of the Deputy's point about drugs and a greater focus on health and rehabilitation. I take the point he makes. The Minister of State with responsibility for drugs would have to consider it. I would want to hear what her view on it was and look at the evidence but the intention behind spent convictions is to give people a second chance. We have begun applying it to certain areas in this legislation. I have no doubt it will be extended at a later point but we would need to examine the implications of that proposal.

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