Vol. 512 No. 2
148 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of petitions acceded to since he came into office, including figures on a yearly and county to county basis; the number refused; and the number awaiting a decision. [25699/99]
The Deputy will be aware that in determining the merits of a petition or an application to open a petition I must have regard to the 1995 High Court judgment on petitions which stated that the power of clemency which I may exercise must be used sparingly and only in special and exceptional circumstances. In the period in question, I acceded to 13 petitions and refused 3,680 petitions-applications to open a petition. There are currently some 2,500 petitions-applications to open a petition on hand awaiting decision.
Details of petitions acceded to on a yearly and county by county basis, as requested, are as follows:
|
Year |
County |
FullMitigation |
PartMitigation |
Total |
|
1997(from 26 June) |
Galway |
Nil |
1 |
1 |
|
1998 |
DublinLeitrimMeath |
Nil11 |
1NilNil |
3 |
|
1999(end Nov.) |
DonegalDublinGalwayKildareMeath |
NilNilNilNilNil |
13311 |
9 |
