Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 6, line 28, to delete "24 years" and substitute "25 years".

Amendments Nos. 8, 10, 12 and 14 are technical amendments removing the words "and over" from section 5 on foot of advice of the OPLA and to insert a comma where it was omitted from the Bill as initiated.

Amendments Nos. 7, 9, 11 and 13 are substantive and relate to the age at which the Bill defines a young adult. As the Minister will be aware, a major part of this Bill is that it sets out different spent conviction arrangements for young adults due to their higher rehabilitative needs by allowing for shorter periods before their convictions can become spent. The Bill currently defines the age as 23 and younger, and in these amendments I am proposing to increase it to 24 years and younger. This is on foot of recommendation No. 9 of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality report, which specifically calls for a distinct approach and even proposed extending the provisions of the Children Act 2011 for those under 18 to the same age range. While not identical, what I propose largely reflects the recommendation and will also align the Bill with the Youth Work Act 2001, which defines a young adult as a person under the age of 25.

Amendments Nos. 27 and 28 are consequential amendments to the Schedule to the Bill to reflect the proposed redefinition of a young adult from the age of "23 and younger" to "24 and younger" in section 5.