Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the further roll-out of electronic tagging of criminals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26112/22]

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 108 makes provision for an order for electronic monitoring in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release.  

In addition, the Government recently approved my proposal to publish the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021, which has since passed second stage in the Dáil.

As drafted, this Bill includes provision for a court to order an electronic monitoring device for a convicted sex offender who is subject to a post-release supervision order, or a sex offender order, that includes a condition restricting the offender's movement, post release.

The Deputy may wish to note that the operational details of how this will work will have to be carefully developed and take account of the costs and value for money, in the context of the technology’s relatively limited effectiveness, as well as the Council of Europe Guidelines.

The aim is to provide our courts with a range of appropriate tools and interventions to allow for monitoring and reducing the risks posed by sex offenders, to facilitate rehabilitation and to protect the public.

There is some evidence that electronic monitoring can be effective in respect of sex offenders when used for a short duration in tandem with other interventions, such as probation supervision and this is what I am proposing in the Bill.

As a technology, electronic monitoring has advanced over the years, but not all of its limitations have yet been overcome and I envisage therefore that a pilot scheme will be introduced to explore its costs and benefits once the legislation is in place.  I will keep this matter under review.

It important to note that while electronic monitoring can serve a useful purpose, it does not in and of itself prevent the commission of crime. It is not a real time surveillance system but primarily a means of checking compliance with any conditions of probation or bail. However, we have in place a number of ways of engaging with and monitoring people both on probation and on bail and electronic tagging, if it is to be used, should be considered in conjunction with targeted probation supervision measures, and/or for those on temporary early release.