Sex offenders register reform
Deputy Naughten warned that delays in modernising sex offender registration law leave Ireland with a dangerous gap in public protection. The Taoiseach said he would engage the Minister for Justice and come back to him on the promised legislation.
In 2009 the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform told the Dáil the failure to modernise the law on the registration of sex offenders would lead to Ireland becoming a safe haven for convicted sex offenders. Some 151 months later that gaping hole in our so-called sex offenders register has yet to be closed off. It is likely that some of the near-500 convicted rapists and paedophiles missing from the UK are residing here in Ireland, posing an unacceptable risk to women, children and vulnerable adults because of our outdated sex offenders register. When will we see the long-promised sex offenders (amendment) Bill?
