A major package of anti-crime measures is to be discussed by the Cabinet today, including electronic tagging and mandatory minimum sentences for certain firearms offences, writes Liam Reid, Political Reporter.
In one of the most extensive pieces of legislation dealing with criminal and judicial matters in recent years, Ministers will also be asked to approve the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos).
The measures are included in a series of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, which Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is to bring to the Cabinet this morning for approval.
They include:
The legislation, which will be brought before the Oireachtas in the coming months, will introduce other new criminal offences, including the supply of drugs to a prisoner and attacking a member of the emergency services.
The measures allow for the electronic tagging of convicted persons or people awaiting trial, who might otherwise be sent to prison or remanded in custody.
They will also allow courts to use the tagging to impose restrictions on people's movements, such as confining them to specific areas, or banning them from other areas.
Participation in an electronic tagging scheme would require the approval of the individual concerned.
It is envisaged that the use of electronic tagging would only apply to people convicted of minor offences, although it could also be used in bail situations or to ensure people were adhering to certain conditions attached to early release.
The tags can be monitored to ensure that a person's whereabouts are in keeping with what a court has permitted.
Mr McDowell said yesterday he was still undecided about the merits of electronic tagging, and a pilot scheme would be introduced at first.
It would have to prove to be more efficient and less expensive thatraditional probation and welfare measures, before any decision would be made as to whether it should be expanded, he said.
He was speaking after outlining a series of proposed reforms aimed at eliminating drugs in Irish prisons. These reforms will be introduced from early next year.
They include mandatory drug tests, sniffer-dog searches and "closed visits" for certain prisoners, where they have no physical contact with their visitors.
Some of the reforms are included in the legislation coming before the Cabinet today, such as allowing judges to set earlier release dates or partially suspend sentences, if prisoners successfully address an addiction problem.
A number of the other measures contained in today's proposed legislation were already outlined by Mr McDowell earlier this year, following criticism that the Government was failing to address the growing problem of criminal gang activity, despite a series of operations by gardaí in the last 12 months.
Eighteen people have been shot dead this year, the majority of them in gangland-related incidents. This compares with eight in the whole of 2004.
Today's package will see mandatory sentences introduced for the first time in relation to firearms offences. Offenders found guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances will face a minimum sentence of five years, while those who produce a gun to resist arrest or hijack a vehicle will face a minimum sentence of 10 years.
A number of the provisions are expected to face criticism from Opposition politicians and some interest groups.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has already criticised electronic tagging as being too expensive and does not reduce reoffending.
Children's charities such as the Children's Rights Alliance have criticised Asbos, as leading to the identification and jailing of children in Britain.
Mr McDowell said in July that his Asbo proposals will be radically different to those in Britain, and would be used as a last resort, while only gardaí could make Asbo applications before the courts.
Children would not be identified in Asbos as a matter of course, he said.