A new law has come into force today, aiming to provide better management and monitoring of convicted sex offenders in Ireland.
The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 makes changes to the notification requirements for the sex offenders register, allows courts to prohibit a sex offender from working with children, and allows An Garda Síochána to disclose information relating to persons on the sex offender register where there is a serious risk to the public.
In a statement on the new law, Justice Minister Helen McEntee explained its goal.
“These tough new laws will help us build stronger, safer communities and will strengthen our already robust system for monitoring sex offenders,” she said.
“The new laws will help alleviate understandable concerns which communities can have about sex offenders and the protection of public safety and our citizens. For example, it introduces stricter notification requirements, and gives powers to the court to explicitly prohibit convicted sex offenders from working with children or vulnerable people.
“This legislation gives An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service the tools to ensure sex offenders are managed effectively, striking an appropriate balance between monitoring and restricting offenders while also supporting them in their rehabilitation.
“Tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence and supporting victims of crime are priorities for me and my Department.
“I also want to reform the criminal justice system to make it more victim-centred, and this Act contains significant measures to help in that work.”
The Act reduces, from seven to three days, the period for sex-offenders to inform Gardaí of their name and address within three days of leaving prison; of any change to their name or address within three days; if they are going to be outside the State for more than three days; if they are returning to the State having been outside it for three days; if they are at an address in the State for three days and that address has not been notified to AGS; or every 12 months if they had not notified within the previous 12 months.
Other provisions include providing powers to the Garda Síochána to take fingerprints, palm-prints and photographs to confirm the identity of the person.
In extenuating circumstances – for example, where there is a serious threat to public safety – it allows for An Garda Síochána to disclose information relating to persons on the sex offender register.
It also places the current Sex Offenders Risk and Assessment and Management (SORAM) monitoring process for sex offenders on a statutory footing.