Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 43:

In page 20, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:“Monitoring of Sentencing Guidelines

19.(1) The Sentencing Information and Guidelines Committee must—

(a) monitor the operation and effect of its sentencing guidelines, under section 19,

and

(b) consider what conclusions can be drawn from the information obtained by virtue of paragraph (a).

(2) Committee must, in particular, discharge its duty under subsection (1)(a)with a view to drawing conclusions about—

(a) the frequency with which, and extent to which, courts depart from sentencing guidelines,

(b) the factors which influence the sentences imposed by courts,

(c) the effect of the guidelines on the promotion of consistency in sentencing, and

(d) the effect of the guidelines on the promotion of public confidence in the criminal justice system.

(3) When reporting on the exercise of its functions under this section in its annual report for a financial year, the Committee must include—

(a) a summary of the information obtained under subsection (1)(a), and

(b) a report of any conclusions drawn by the Committee under subsection (1)(b).”.