The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has recommended that certain criminal convictions should be wiped from a person's record after seven years to allow people to "put their past behind them".
In a report to be published this evening, the LRC recommends that suitable "spent conviction" legislation should be introduced to allow for such a change in the law.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said today his department would consider the proposals. "I think there are some worthwhile ideas there, but clearly they'll require further study in my department before they we can bring forward proposals on it," he said today.
"But yes, in principle, it's an idea I'm open to."
Labour Party spokesman on justice Brendan Howlin urged the Government to legislate along the lines proposed in the Commission Report.
"Similar legislation to that now being proposed by the Commission was introduced in Britain in the 1970s with no negative results," he said in a statement.
"A once-off breach of the law on a minor matter should not be a millstone around a person's neck for the rest of their lives and perhaps provide an impediment to career or promotional opportunities. "
Under current laws, records of criminal convictions of adults are permanent. For example, under the current law if a person has a conviction for a minor public order offence 20 years ago when they were 19, this must be disclosed if a prospective employer asks the question.
Under the scheme proposed by the LRC such individuals would be entitled not to disclose such information, in a similar way to those convicted under the age of 18.
But the scheme would have limits: Any crime tried in the Central Criminal Court and all sexual offences would be excluded as would any crime with a jail sentence of more than six months.
"The underlying value of the spent convictions scheme should be an acknowledgement that a criminal record is not necessarily an indicator of the current or future behaviour of an individual," the report says.
"The commission recommends that the spent convictions scheme should reflect that the law recognises a point at which an individual is entitled to put their past behind them."
The LRC recommends that a conviction-free period of seven years should apply in the case of all sentences of imprisonment of six months or less, and a period of five years for all offences that attract a non-custodial sentence.
Certain jobs, professions and posts would be exempted from the proposed scheme, and disclosure would be mandatory when applying for such jobs.
These include any post involving children or vulnerable people; any post in healthcare; legal positions; civil servant; firearms dealers; member of the Defence Forces, Prison Service or the Garda; and accountants, directors, controllers or managers of financial institutions.
All previous convictions should also continue to be disclosed if necessary in court cases and in the context of certain civil matters, in particular where the welfare of children is in issue.
The Law Reform Commission's report will be unveiled by Mr Justice Kevin Haugh, chairman of the Garda Ombudsman Commission, this evening.
