Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Asylum Support Services

3:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 45: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to the case of the 5,456 headline offences committed by persons on bail, the offences for which the persons were on bail; when the offences while the persons were on bail were committed; the number of persons charged and convicted of offences while on bail; the steps he is proposing to take to tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9771/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In relation to bail in general, during the term of office of the rainbow coalition the number of prisoners on temporary release reached an all time high of 20% at one stage. As a result of the action of this Government this so called revolving door system operated by the rainbow coalition has been stopped and the percentage of the prison population on temporary release now is approximately 2.3%.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that of the 5,456 offences committed in 2005 by persons on bail, proceedings commenced against 3,353 persons to date, with 758 of those being convicted. Figures provided for 2005 are provisional, operational and liable to change.

The Bail Act 1997 gave effect to the sixteenth amendment to the Constitution and tightened up the bail regime considerably. In addition, section 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 provides for consecutive sentencing of an offender who commits an offence while already on bail for another offence. The granting of bail in accordance with the Bail Act, the amount of bail and sentencing are matters for the courts which are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

The information requested regarding the offences for which the persons concerned were on bail, cannot be readily answered and it would require an unjustified deployment of Garda time and resources to identify each offence.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.