Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the programme for partnership Government commitment on the introduction of mandatory sentencing for robbery with violence in the home. [18811/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government states that the Government will ask the relevant Oireachtas committee to consider the introduction of mandatory sentencing for robbery, with violence, in the home.

In March 2017, the then Minister for Justice and Equality wrote to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, inviting the Committee to consider whether the law in this area could be appropriately strengthened by the introduction of mandatory sentencing, taking into account the arguments for and against mandatory sentencing. My officials and I will continue to engage with the Committee on this issue.

The Deputy will be aware that the Court of Appeal has recently set down sentencing guidelines for burglary and robbery and I strongly welcome this development.