Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
378. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Amendments) Bill 2019 will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the current Oireachtas session in the context of a recent report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25410/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware in 2016, relevant Supreme Court judgments raised the issue of how best to adapt and administer under Irish law a foreign sentence that contains features not found in Irish sentences.
To address this issue the Government approved the General Scheme of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Amendment) Bill in 2019 to amend the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997.
Legislation to transpose Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA is also being progressed and is on the most recent Government Legislative Programme Priority List for publication. This legislation will address similar issues which could arise in relation to sentence adaptation in respect of sentence transfers between EU Member States.
Officials in my Department are currently working with the Office of the Attorney General with a view to progressing these issues and bringing the necessary legislation to deal with both Member State and non-Member State scenarios before the Oireachtas as soon as practicable.
