Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions brought and convictions secured for an offence under section 9 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 in each year since its enactment; the number of such prosecutions that related to terrorist and to other serious crimes; if there are proposals to amend the law in order to keep the section as part of the permanent criminal law rather than as an extraordinary provision requiring annual renewal by both Houses of the Oireachtas; if there are proposals to remove the exclusion of offences of a sexual nature from the range of offences covered by the provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41198/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Although enacted in response to exceptional events, the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 is not extraordinary legislation but forms an important element of the criminal law targeting the ongoing threat of terrorism. There no plans at present to change these provisions; however, they are kept under constant review as to their necessity and effectiveness. As I have indicated to the House previously, ideally we would not like to have legislation such as this but the prevailing circumstances are not ideal.

I am awaiting a report from the Garda Síochána in relation to the statistical information sought by the Deputy and will communicate further with him when I have received this.