Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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330. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will instruct his Department to examine the current laws surrounding concurrent sentences in order to ensure sentencing is fair, effective, and accountable to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10366/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to emphasise that the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, including sentencing.

The Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of an independent Judicial Council, and, within that body, a Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee, which was established in 2020.

Its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines, together with the collating of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others.

The Judicial Council is independent in the exercise of its functions and, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in relation to the operation of the Judicial Council or its Committees.

The Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee intends to produce guidelines for specific offences and classes of offences, as is contemplated by section 91(1) of the Judicial Council Act 2019.

In line with the Programme for Government, I intend to review the sentencing guidelines legislation.