Written answers

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Prison Committals

8:00 pm

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of committals on remand during each of the last five years; the number of these persons remanded in custody who went on to receive a custodial sentence; his views of the necessity of using this measure to the extent it is currently used; his further views on the level of risk that remand prisoners pose to public safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35656/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the number of committals on remand who were either released by Court or did not receive a sentence by year end are outlined in the table.

YearTotal
20065,311
20074,967
20085,052
20094,519
20104,836

Source: Irish Prison Service Annual Reports

The more specific figures requested by the Deputy are not available at present. However, the Irish Prison Service hopes that with the ongoing improvement and development of the prisoner recording system, these figures will be available in future Annual Reports.

On average about 15% of those in custody in prison on any one day are on remand. The indications are that the numbers on remand in this jurisdiction are, relatively speaking, lower than in neighbouring jurisdictions.

My Department has been engaged in work to consolidate and update the law on bail with a view to presenting a clear, accessible and modern statement of the law. In the context of that modernisation of the law, I will be seeking to restructure the law so that it has a focus on the protection of the individual and the protection of the public. My intention is that the new proposals will provide better guidance to the courts on how such protection might be provided. I am also taking the opportunity to introduce some general improvements to bail law to improve the overall working of the bail system.

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