Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to legislate for mandatory jail terms for violent unprovoked assaults and to criminalise the practice of so-called happy slapping. [15485/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, already provides for a variety of offences in relation to assault, including assault causing harm, causing serious harm, threats to kill or cause serious injury, as well as a range of other offences.

The question of introducing additional legislative measures in this area specifically in respect of violent unprovoked assaults and to criminalise the practice of so called "happy slapping" including providing for mandatory jail terms for such offences, is under consideration by my Department in the light of the commitment in the Programme for Government 2007 - 2012.