Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 2

Written Answers. - Crime Prevention.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

182 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Government intends to respond to the text of the resolution on basic principles on the use of restorative justice; the Government's views on the contents of the draft elements of basic principles attached to the resolution forwarded to them by the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations; if the Government intend responding positively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7150/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I will respond shortly to the Secretary General of the United Nations on the text of the UN. Resolution No. 2000/14 concerning the basic principles on the use of restorative justice programmes in criminal matters. I support the development of a new appropriate international instrument on restorative justice as my response will make clear.

The Children Bill, 1999, which is before the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, contains some of the most comprehensive and innovative provisions on restorative justice anywhere in the world. Those provisions are provided through restorative conferencing measures involving juvenile liaison officers or probation and welfare officers and restorative cautioning measures. They represent a new way of dealing with youth offending that is not an easy option but helps the offender to face up to the consequences of his or her offending. Mediation between offender and victim may be a feature of restorative conferencing with the offender usually being required to apologise and make reparation to the victim. However, much more can be involved, depending on circumstances, such as restriction on movement, school attendance, counselling and participation in community activities. The legislation is generally in line with the text of the Resolution.

In addition, on a non-statutory basis, I financially support two community based restorative justice initiatives – a three year pilot project involving a partnership between the Tallaght mediation service and the probation and welfare service, and a similar co-operative venture between the Nenagh community reparation project and the probation and welfare service.