Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome this debate and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to the House.

Significant progress has been made in legislating for sex offences in the past decade or so. It is regrettable that we were not debating this 30 years ago. However, circumstances have changed. For such legislation to be a success, it is critical that there be international co-operation. However, it is more critical that our neighbours in Northern Ireland, particularly the PSNI, along with other arms of the state, such as appropriation authorities, co-operate with one another to the maximum extent to ensure those convicted of serious sex offences, usually against young people, cannot slip out of this jurisdiction across the Border and find shelter in the Six Counties, and that those convicted in Northern Ireland or Britain cannot find shelter here. The Border is very easy to negotiate and it is critical that there be as much co-operation as possible between both jurisdictions.

The monitoring of sex offenders is critical. The sex offenders management and intelligence unit is part of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The unit is supported by nominated Garda inspectors and each Garda division in the State has its own staff from monitoring sex offenders.

An integrated system for ensuring co-operation between the probation services on both sides of the Border is as important as co-operation between the Garda Síochána and PSNI. The Minister of State said that to assist in its supervision of sex offenders, the probation service, in partnership with the Granada Institute, runs the Lighthouse treatment programmes for sex offenders under its supervision. Sex offences covered by the 2001 Act are appalling and serious.

In addition to ensuring the co-operation of the various authorities concerned, it is important to ensure that, in so far as it is possible, sex offenders be treated, be it through counselling or treatment by clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. I read of two or three cases in which there was a lack of regret on the part of paedophiles. One case involved the downloading of images of young people and another involved physical interference with young people. In one case, in which the court was prepared to offer a young offender some leniency, I was amazed that the offender felt at all times that what he had done was normal and appropriate. He refused treatment and help. As a consequence, he probably received a more serious sentence then he would have received had he apologised and said his actions were wrong. The worrying point is that, if that offender is on the streets again, in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, he may, considering his mental attitude to serious crimes, re-offend.

The Minister of State referred to the management of sex offenders, both inside and outside prisons. This is essential. Sex offenders in prison are usually segregated. Within prisons, under the sex offenders programme, therapeutic interventions with sex offenders are delivered primarily through the psychology service of the Irish Prison Service. My experience of dealing with prisons, primarily Cork Prison, and my experience as a practising lawyer is such that I would have said ten years ago that the amount of resources, including clinical psychology and counselling services, for inmates in general left a lot to be desired. Either there were not sufficient staff or the programme was not being managed correctly. I am not being disparaging towards the Minister of State in saying this. Offering an offender a 45-minute consultation, perhaps once in six months, was not enough. The service should be improved. I accept that many strides have been made in the past ten years but feel strongly that more can and should be done to rehabilitate the offenders in question.

The Minister of State referred to electronic monitoring. I am very interested to note the testing of the global positioning system for monitoring sex offenders, although I accept it is only a pilot scheme. I do not hesitate in saying this should be expanded. Sex offences are very serious. Generally, those subjected to sexual harassment and abuse are usually minors, some of whom are very young.

We dealt with cross-Border co-operation. It is important to acknowledge that, in November 2006, a memorandum of understanding on information-sharing arrangements between Ireland and the United Kingdom relating to sex offenders was signed by the then Minister. This progress was important. It indicates that, since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there has been North-South co-operation in many areas, especially in regard to sex offences. As a result of the memorandum of understanding, the exchange of information between the Garda Síochána, the PSNI and British police forces, which has been taking place for some time, will now be on a formal footing. This is extremely important. Prior to 2006, co-operation took place, not only with the UK but also with countries across Europe, in respect of sharing information relating to sex offenders. The fact that matters have been placed on a formal footing is a welcome development.

The Garda Sex Offender Management Unit is the single point of contact within the force. It is great that members of this unit and their counterparts in the PSNI meet on a regular basis. The utopian situation would be to eliminate all sex offences or to minimise the number that are perpetrated. Unfortunately, we live in a society where such a utopia will probably never become a reality. In the past 12 years or so, substantial progress has been made by successive Governments in the areas of legislation, monitoring and co-operation in respect of curtailing the number of sex offences that occur. We have changed the way in which sex offenders are dealt with and monitored. Probation officers work to ensure that such offenders are properly supervised and there is co-operation among the various police forces.

I welcome the debate and I am glad the Minister of State came before the House to share his extremely important views with Members.