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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Apr 1989

Vol. 388 No. 10

Written Answers. - Remission of Sentences or Fines.

42.

asked the Minister for Justice the number of petitions which he received in the year 1988 in connection with remission of sentences or fines; the percentage of cases in which he granted the petition; the reason for doing so; if he received political representations on behalf of petitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In 1988, 4,400 petitions were received and action was completed on 3,920 cases. I exercised my power of remission in 52 per cent of these cases. The reasons for exercising this power are many and varied and it would not be possible, certainly not by way of reply to a parliamentary question, to set out the reasons and circumstances in each particular case.

A plea for clemency to the Minister may be made by the convicted person or someone acting on his/her behalf, for example a relative, a friend, a solicitor or a public representative and a number of cases are supported by political representations.

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