10th March 2015
In response to a question by Senator Ivana Bacik on the 3rd of March, the Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD has stated that she hopes the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill will be enacted before summer 2015. This is welcome news.
However, IPRT is concerned at suggestions that the Bill will be amended so that the rehabilitation period for all minor offences will be seven years. IPRT recommends that rehabilitation periods should be set at proportionate levels, and for there to be no limit to the number of eligible convictions which can become spent.
Read Senator Bacik's question and Minister Fitzgerald's response here.
Read the IPRT submission to the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 here.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.