Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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516.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the need for urgent legislation in relation to a victims right to be informed about the release of their attacker (details supplied); if she agrees that it is an issue that the privacy of the attacker is given more weight than the rights of the victim; if she will ensure that this loophole is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24588/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The case referred to by the Deputy relates to an individual convicted for attempted murder, who has served the sentence handed down for that crime, but is now being separately detained, for a concurrent, but longer period of detention in the Central Mental Hospital on foot of an unrelated criminal offence.

This means that while the victim in the attempted murder case is entitled to be informed of the release date of the perpetrator in relation to that criminal conviction, that right is essentially moot. This is because the perpetrator will not be released at the end of that sentence but will remain in the Central Mental Hospital for a longer period as a result of the concurrent, but longer period of detention for the unrelated offence.

Given the unique and complex nature of this case, senior officials from my Department met with the victim to discuss the particular circumstances of their case.

On foot of that meeting, my officials have committed to examining how we can ensure that a person’s right to information about the release date would continue to operate where the actual date of release from detention is deferred due a separate detention in the CMH on an unrelated matter. This examination will include looking at whether amending legislation might be required.