Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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429. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the review of the minimum sentencing policy under section 29 of the Judicial Council Act 2019 has commenced; if the public will be consulted as part of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34927/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, section 29 of the Judicial Council Act 2019 was commenced on 16 December 2019.

Section 29 provides that a review of enactments which provide for the imposition of minimum sentences for offences will be commenced not later than 2 years after the coming into operation of the section. It is therefore my intention that the review will commence later this year and the question of consultation will be considered at that time.

As the Deputy will also be aware, the Government published, in February, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021. This follows a 2019 Supreme Court judgement striking down a section of the Firearms Act 1964 on mandatory minimum sentences for a second or subsequent offences. The Bill, which will repeal all penalties on the statute book involving mandatory minimum sentences for second or subsequent offences, completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 28 April 2021. It is my intention that the Bill will be enacted this year.