Written answers

Thursday, 2 October 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Electronic Monitoring of Offenders

5:00 pm

Photo of Deirdre CluneDeirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views and intentions in respect of electronic tagging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32781/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The enabling provisions to allow for the use of Electronic Monitoring are provided for in the Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007. However, before any decisions are taken on the introduction of those specific provisions careful and detailed consideration must be given to the costs, advances in technology, the offender cohort most suitable and the likely overall impact on reducing recidivism and preventing crime. For those reasons I have no immediate plans at this point in time to implement the enabling provisions of the Criminal Justice Acts, 2006 and 2007, in relation to Electronic Monitoring.

However, I can assure the House that my Department is keeping developments in other jurisdictions under close review so that any decisions we make in the future will be informed by the practical experience gained from how Electronic Monitoring has, in fact, operated on the ground in other countries. In particular, the outcomes achieved and the added value to the overall management of offenders brought to bear by the use of Electronic Monitoring will be central to any decisions taken.

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