Jim O'Keeffe
Question:315 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he proposes to introduce electronic tagging; and the offences or areas in which this policy would be applicable. [21211/04]
View answerThursday, 8 July 2004
Questions (315)
Written answers
My Department has kept the use in other jurisdictions of electronic tagging systems to monitor offenders under review for some time. As I explained in my previous replies to the House on this matter, difficulties have been encountered in other jurisdictions in developing fully effective electronic tagging systems, but recent developments in technology may provide solutions to these. The developments are being considered by my Department, in consultation with the prison and probation and welfare services, with a view to drawing up an enabling provision in due course. As the examination is still in progress, I am not in a position to indicate definitively what the possible uses of electronic tagging might be in this jurisdiction. I have asked the services to examine the scope for using electronic monitoring for offenders serving sentences in the community as well as those being released from prison.