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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - Mitigation Petitions.

Nora Owen

Question:

371 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to a petition (details supplied); and if he will consider all the circumstances of this petition in a sympathetic way. [27398/98]

The operation of the petitions procedure fundamentally changed in April 1995 as a result of a High Court judgment on petitions.

The judgment stated that the power of clemency which I may exercise must be used sparingly and only in special and exceptional circumstances. As a consequence of applying the High Court judgment to the assessment of petitions-applications to open a petition, approximately 99 per cent of petition cases which I have adjudicated on, have had to be refused.

A decision will issue shortly to the petitioner.

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