Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the extension of electronic tagging for criminals with multiple convictions for serious offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8674/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 contains provisions for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring in this jurisdiction.

Section 101 concerns Restriction of Movement Orders and subsection 10 provides the stipulation that a person may be subjected to electronic monitoring as part of the conditions of the order.  Under section 108, Temporary Release of Prisoners, the Minister for Justice is enabled to make an order for electronic monitoring in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release.

In effect, the wearing of an electronic tagging device and adherence to the rules which apply to the wearing of such a device are incorporated into the conditions of the prisoner’s temporary release. 

The Deputy will be aware that provisions in respect of electronic monitoring of persons on bail are currently contained in section 6B of the Bail Act 1997, but were not commenced.

Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2017, yet to be commenced, amends these existing provisions for the electronic monitoring of persons on bail to facilitate the focused and targeted use of monitoring in appropriate cases.  The Act provides that electronic monitoring may be imposed as a bail condition if the prosecution applies to the court for such a condition and the Judge determines it is appropriate. Work is underway within my Department to ascertain the most effective deployment of electronic monitoring, including looking at other jurisdictions where it was introduced, to see what lessons can be learned.

Finally, the Deputy may wish to note that the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021 includes a number of amendments to the sex offenders register notification requirements, as well as providing for electronic monitoring and for a prohibition on convicted sex offenders engaging in certain forms of employment.