Sex Offenders Notification Requirements

Monday, 11 September 2023

Ceisteanna (1199, 1200)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1199. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 which states that there are currently 1793 people recorded at the Sex Offenders Management and Intelligence Unit who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001; if she will provide a breakdown of offenders originating from other jurisdictions, other than Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38646/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1200. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 444, if she can clarify a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38647/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1199 and 1200 together.

I have asked An Garda Síochána to provide any information of relevance to the Deputy’s question. I will contact the Deputy once An Garda Síochána have responded to my request.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 1191 of 11 September 2023 asking if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 which states that there are currently 1793 people recorded at the Sex Offenders Management and Intelligence Unit who are subject to Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, if a breakdown of offenders originating from jurisdictions, other than Ireland could be provided and if a matter referenced in details supplied could be addressed (Details Supplied: Can the Minister clarify why there is no offence code specific to offenders originating from another country available in Pulse? If Section 13 of The Sex Offenders Act 2001 places notification requirements on offenders form other jurisdictions who enter into the Republic of Ireland - what mechanisms are in place to record this?). You will recall that at the time the question was asked, I contacted An Garda Síochána to request information relevant to the question posed and as it was not available in the time permitted, I undertook to contact you when the information was received.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that a search on Pulse conducted on 15 September 2023 indicated that 1802 people are currently subject to Part 2 the act. A breakdown of the nationality of those people is as follows:

Nationality of those currently subject to the Sex Offenders Act
Irish	1510	84%
English	51	3%
Unknown	46	3%
Romanian	21	1%
Polish	17	1%
Northern Irish	16	1%
British	12	1%
Lithuanian	12	1%
Nigerian	11	1%

*all other nationalities below 1%

As is Garda Síochána Analysis Service policy for Data Protection reasons, returns below 10 incidents are not detailed.

These figures were correct as of 15 September 2023 and a re operational and subject to change.

I am also advised that Section 13 ensures that a specific cohort of offenders entering this jurisdiction are subject to the notification requirements of part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 i.e. that such offenders must comply with the notification requirements as provided for under section 10 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. Notifications made by such offenders are recorded as section 10 notifications on Pulse. While section 13 makes the offenders concerned subject to the Sec Offenders Act 2001 while they are in this jurisdiction, it does not create any additional offences or notification requirements. Section 13 is not of itself an additional form of notification.

Any failure to comply with the notification requirements specified at section 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 is an offence under Section 12 of that Act. Section 13 does not create any additional offences specific to offenders from outside of the jurisdiction. Where such an offender fails to comply with the notification requirements under section 10 of the Act, they are prosecuted accordingly.

Question No. 1200 answered with Question No. 1199.