Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
429. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice the number of people convicted of sex offences involving minors in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, by county, in tabular form; the number of those convicted who received a fully suspended sentence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21240/24]
View answer437. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases that have come before the DPP in relation to sexual offences involving children, in each of the past three years; the number of those that came before court; the number which resulted in a custodial sentence; the number who secured a conviction but where a custodial sentence was not received; if those convicted with or without a custodial sentence have re-offended, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21301/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 437 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution.
The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have referred his question to the Court Service for direct reply.
Similarly, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is fully independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). The Office of the DPP is not an agency or body under my remit as Minister for Justice and, as I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the Director, I am unable to provide any statistics related to the work of the DPP.
