Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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11. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to stop convicted sex offenders circumventing their monitoring through the use of a name change by deed poll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34859/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is a robust framework of legislation in place to monitor and manage the risk posed by convicted sex offenders to the community.

Convicted sex offenders are subject to part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 which imposes notification requirements on the offender.

The offender is obliged to notify An Garda Síochána of their personal details, and of any changes to them, including their name, any other names they use, and address, for a period of time after conviction which of course can be a sentence of up to life in the case of more serious offenders.

It would be an offence for an offender to change their name - or use another name - and not notify the Gardaí. If the offender fails to comply with the requirements then they are in breach of the Act and subject to investigation by An Garda Síochána.

While this was always the case, last year I enacted the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act to strengthen what was already a robust system for monitoring sex offenders.

This piece of legislation has significantly reduced the period for sex-offenders to inform Gardaí of any change in their circumstances and has provided additional powers to An Garda Síochána to take photographs, fingerprints and palm prints from a convicted sex offender.

It has given Gardaí the power to disclose information regarding a convicted sex offender to a third party in certain circumstances and it provides for the court to prohibit a sex offender from working with children.

The 2023 Act also places the current multi-agency Sex Offenders Risk Assessment and Management (SORAM) monitoring process on a statutory footing and has broadened the eligibility criteria to allow more convicted sex offenders to be considered for inclusion in this process.

This new legislation gives An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Courts increased tools and powers to ensure sex offenders are managed effectively in the community.