Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has advanced his plans to tag convicted sex offenders as he outlined prior to the 2011 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13889/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a series of post-imprisonment restraint orders for violent and sexual offenders to include electronic tagging and other restrictions, which may be imposed at the time of sentencing.

The Sex Offenders Act 2001 introduced the sex offenders' register, post release supervision orders for sex offenders and civil orders restricting sex offenders in certain ways.

My Department has been conducting a wide-ranging examination of the law on sexual offences and a review of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 formed an integral part of that examination. Arising from the review, I expect to seek Government approval for legislative proposals, including a number of amendments to the 2001 Act, in the coming months. Legislative proposals being considered include measures for the electronic monitoring of sex offenders in specific circumstances and changes with regard to civil sex offender orders to make it easier to apply to a court for such an order.