Vol. 551 No. 4
192 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to introduce legislation to deal with excessively lenient sentences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10745/02]
Legislative provision already exists to allow for an appeal against a sentence on the basis that it is unduly lenient. Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1993, provides that in the case of all indictable offences, which would include rape and sexual assault, the Director of Public Prosecutions can appeal a sentence where it appears to him or her to be unduly lenient. The decision to appeal a sentence in any particular case is, of course, a matter solely for the Director of Public Prosecutions who, by law, is independent in carrying out his or her functions.
