Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; the reason the response time from An Garda Síochána was so unsatisfactory; the efforts which were made to locate the truck or its valuable cargo at the time; and the efforts which are being made to resolve this case at present and to inform the person in question of any progress. [24015/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I requested a report from the Garda authorities in respect of the issues raised by the Deputy.

On 30 May, 2006 a call was made to the Garda Command and Control Communications Centre reporting the unauthorised taking of a van delivering to a business premises in Dublin 11. The vehicle was unattended with the keys in the ignition and the engine running at the time it was taken. The details were circulated by the Garda authorities to all Garda patrols at 11.21 am. A Garda Detective Unit was dispatched to this call at 11.22 am and was subsequently joined by a uniform Garda patrol car. Both units carried out a search of the area. The priority for the Gardaí was to attempt to intercept the vehicle.

At 12.26 pm a Garda unit went to the scene and a report was taken from the person in question. I am further informed that to date neither the vehicle nor its contents have been located and that the incident is being actively investigated by the Garda authorities. I understand that a Garda Inspector has updated the person in question on all aspects of the Garda investigation.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has informed the US Department of Justice that a person (details supplied) is currently resident in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24016/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is known to the Garda; and if they have been placed on the sex offenders register in view of the concerns that residents in Kerry have regarding this person. [24017/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to imprisonment, from the date of full release from prison.

Thereafter, the offender must notify the Gardaí of any change of name or address within seven days of that change. Notification of any address where the offender spends either as much as seven days or two or more periods amounting to seven days in any twelve month period must also be given to the Gardaí.

If the offender intends to leave the State for a period of seven days or more s/he must inform the Gardaí of this fact and the address at which s/he intends to stay and also notify the Gardaí of his/her return. If s/he did not intend to stay away for more than seven days but did, s/he must inform the Gardaí within a further seven days. The provisions of the Act extend to any sex offenders entering this jurisdiction from abroad who have an obligation to register in their own countries.

It is an offence to fail to comply with the notification requirements. The penalty is imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine of €1,900 or both. The Garda Síochána pursue all cases which come to their attention of persons who do not fulfil the reporting obligations placed on them by the Act.