Vol. 467 No. 2
37 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish a national register of convicted paedophiles; whether she favours the idea of notifying local communities that convicted paedophiles are living or working in their area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11759/96]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 13 of 15 May 1996. As I stated in that reply, the Garda authorities report that the Garda Criminal Records Office already maintains indexed records of all persons convicted of criminal offences, including persons convicted of sexual offences. These records are confidential Garda records. The information contained in them is disclosed in certain limited circumstances.
The limited circumstances in question include the provision by the Garda Síochána of information to employers — including those in children's residential centres — on the criminal convictions, if any, recorded in respect of applicants for posts which involve substantial access to children. The release of such information is, having regard to the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 1988, subject to the prior written consent of each applicant.
