Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
560. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons recorded as having absconded while on bail in each of the past ten years to date; the number of such persons who were subsequently recaptured and the extent to which their case in the court was thereafter affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7778/14]
View answerIn relation to the statistical information sought by the Deputy, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide relevant statistics in relation to offences concerning breaches of bail directly to the Deputy.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the compilation of the other information sought by the Deputy would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.
Insofar as the enforcement of bench warrants is concerned, including those which issue where a person on bail fails to attend in court, An Garda Síochána take all possible action to ensure that such persons are located as quickly as possible, having regard to all of the relevant circumstances.
