I have asked An Garda Síochána to provide any information of relevance to the Deputy’s question. I will contact the Deputy once An Garda Síochána have responded to my request.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 20 June 2023 asking about satisfaction with the level compliance by persons (details supplied) who are subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; how many convicted sex offenders travelling to Ireland from another country, EU and non-EEA, that have been prosecuted for breaching these conditions for the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied: Persons entering the state from another jurisdiction, either EU or Non-EU country, that have failed to notify Garda of their details when entering Ireland) You will recall that at the time I contacted An Garda Síochána to request the information relevant to the question posed and I undertook to write to you as soon as the information is to hand.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has responsibility for monitoring persons convicted of sexual offences who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. This figure does not include offenders currently in prison and outside the jurisdiction.
The Garda National Protective Services Bureau have a dedicated unit, the Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) who have National Governance on the management of Registered Sex Offenders and liaise on a daily basis with Nominated Divisional Inspectors and their teams from around the country with regard to maintaining records and the monitoring at a local level of offenders.
Currently there are 1793 people recorded at the Sex Offenders Management and Intelligence Unit who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
Any person who is subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 is required by the provisions of Section 10 (1) of the Act to notify a member of An Garda Síochána of their intention to reside at a specified location. Failing to notify a member of An Garda Síochána of their intention to reside at that specified location within seven days of entering the country or being released from prison or who moves address within or intend to leave this jurisdiction constitutes an offence under Section 12 (1)(a and (3) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 as amended by Section 13 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008.
Section 13 of The Sex Offenders Act 2001 places notification requirements on offenders from other jurisdictions who enter into the Republic of Ireland.
Where An Garda Síochána becomes aware that an offender subject to the notification requirements has breached those requirements, appropriate action is taken, including circulation through PULSE of their information, as well as inquiries to identify their current whereabouts and all breaches of the requirements which come to notice are pursued.
I am informed that as there were fewer than 10 charges or summons created where the associated offence was “Contravene a Sex Order Contrary to Section 22 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001” in any of the given years 2021, 2022 and in 2023 to date, there are, therefore, too few to report. This refers to all breaches, as there is no offence code specific to offenders originating from another country available in PULSE.
