Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2017
113. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 12 July 2017, the number of the disclosed offences each year that resulted in conviction, non-conviction, struck out or dismissed by court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41098/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra114. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 12 July 2017, if he has undertaken reviews of section 37 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 in particular with regard to the safeguards for test purchasers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 12 July 2017, the number of test purchasers by year and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41100/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 12 July 2017, the reason there were no test purchases carried out in counties Galway, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Roscommon, Longford and Wexford in the years since 2014; the reason County Clare, DMR east, counties Sligo, Leitrim, Tipperary and Waterford have had no test purchases since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41101/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 116, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as amended, makes provision for the test purchasing of intoxicating liquor. These provisions give Gardaí an important additional mechanism to facilitate the targeting of licensed premises which are suspected of engaging in illegal sales of intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 years of age.
Section 37C of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (as inserted by section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008) came into operation on the 1 October, 2010 by virtue of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 (Commencement) Order 2010.
There is no provision for a formal review of Section 37C of the Act which governs the test purchasing of intoxicating liquor. This does not, however, preclude the carrying out and updating where necessary of the guidelines issued under Section 37C(4) concerning the practical operation of test purchasing.
I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the other matters raised by the Deputy and will contact him directly once they are to hand.
