Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the operation of the Register of Sex Offenders; if the information is contained in a central database; the categories of persons who have access to the information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30624/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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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 information provided by persons subject to the notification requirements set out in the Act is held centrally at the Garda Domestic Violence and Sexual Assaults Investigation Unit. It is accessible to members of the Garda Síochána, including nominated Garda Inspectors in each Garda Division who have responsibility for the monitoring of persons subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 in their Division.

The provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 are kept under regular review by the Garda Síochána and my Department with a view to ensuring they are operating in a satisfactory manner.