Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 776: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the new evidence of effectiveness of electronic tagging of offenders with regard to cost saving, reducing the prison population and reducing reoffending that has come to light since his reply to a parliamentary question in March 2003 in which he indicated that the evidence was inconclusive. [1668/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 777: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the electronic tagging of sex offenders; and if he has plans to introduce such a scheme. [1669/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The use of electronic tagging systems to monitor offenders in other jurisdictions is an issue which my Department has kept under review for some time.

As I have explained in my previous replies to the House on this matter, difficulties have been encountered in other jurisdictions in developing fully effective electronic tagging systems, but recent developments in technology may provide solutions to these.

These developments are now being considered by my Department, in consultation with the Prison and Probation and Welfare Services, with a view to drawing up an enabling provision in the Criminal Justice Bill which will allow me to introduce electronic tagging in appropriate cases when the technology has advanced sufficiently. Details of the provision will be announced in the normal way. I can say at this stage that it will address the use of electronic monitoring as an alternative to custody in certain circumstances as well as the monitoring of suitable offenders released from prison before completion of their full sentences.