As the Deputy outlined, the Bill provides that a sex offender can notify at any Garda station that has been designated by the Garda Commissioner for that purpose or at any divisional headquarters. In this way, we are not limiting the offender in notifying at his or her local station. By drafting the provision in this way, a sex offender who regularly resides in Cork but who might by chance be in Donegal for three days can and will notify gardaí in Donegal that he or she is in the area. I reassure the Deputy that th…

We are not doing this to facilitate sex offenders. We are doing this to ensure we have a system that works and whereby they can continue to be monitored. This has been carefully drafted and thought through. I committed on Committee Stage to look at this and to respond to the Deputy regarding this matter. Having again engaged with the Garda on this aspect now, I believe the force is happy and clear that this is the appropriate way to approach this specific part of the Bill. It is important we take on board the Garda…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 10, to delete lines 7 to 13 and substitute the following: "(7B) A member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector may, in respect of a person to whom subsection (7A) applies, specify such period of more or less than 3 days for the purposes of paragraph (b) of that subsection as he or she is satisfied is appropriate, having regard to— (a) the interests of public safety, or (b) the safety of a particular member of the public, and where such a period is so specified, the me…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, lines 14 and 15, to delete "3 days" and substitute "7 days". Amendment No. 7, which is grouped with amendments Nos. 8 and 9, was originally tabled by Deputy Naughten on Committee Stage. I thank him for raising this issue and for his contribution more generally to the legislation. The purpose of the amendment is to increase from three days to seven days the time available to An Garda Síochána to take fingerprints, palm prints and photographs from a relevant offender. Amendments No…

I welcome this amendment and, as the Deputy said, it will be a practical support for gardaí in their work.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 11, line 18, to delete “3 days” and substitute “7 days”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 11, line 24, to delete “3 days” and substitute “7 days”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 13, to delete lines 23 to 28 and substitute the following: “(iv) the address of each other place (if any), whether in or outside the State, at which, on the date on which the notification is given, he or she resides or regularly stays, and (v) the address of each other place (if any), whether in or outside the State, at which the person has resided or regularly stayed since the date on which he or she was convicted of the offence concerned.’.”.”. This amendment ensures offenders who…

I move amendment No. 11: In page 16, line 16, to delete “or 14E”. Amendment No. 12 is the substantive amendment in this grouping. It deletes the original provision under section 14D that concerns the disclosure of information relating to a relevant offender to police services or other law enforcement agencies outside the State. This was to allow An Garda Síochána to enter into agreements with other police forces to share information on sex offenders. However, on the basis of further consultation with An Garda Síoch…

On my own amendments and the changes, there were concerns what we were proposing would in some way jeopardise the system that is already in place. As it currently stands, the sharing of information regarding sex offenders travelling into and out of the State is carried out by way of police-to-police information, that is, intelligence information exchange via Interpol. This allows the relevant police forces to manage the risk posed by such individuals while they are resident either temporarily or, indeed, permanentl…

That is not my interpretation. If the risk is identified, whether the person decides to leave a house, disappear or move away, the risk is still there. There is still an opportunity for the Garda to make the person aware of what it was going to make him or her aware of in the first instance. It is meant to be set out in the legislation. If a risk is identified, that information will be provided to the person where the Garda feel there is a risk or threat. It goes back to the original amendment. If somebody goes to …

Yes, that is my understanding.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 16, to delete lines 30 to 43, and in page 17, to delete lines 1 to 6.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 17, line 9, to delete “ 14E. ” and substitute “ 14D. ”.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 17, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(b) a photograph of the relevant offender;”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 17, line 16, to delete “(b) the address” and substitute “(c) the address”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 17, line 17, to delete “(c) the nature” and substitute “(d) the nature”.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 17, line 19, to delete “(d) the level” and substitute “(e) the level”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 17, line 21, to delete “(e) such other” and substitute “(f) such other”.

I move amendment No. 19: In page 18, line 3, to delete “section 14F(3)” and substitute “section 14E(3)”.