Less ‘effective’ laws may hit all-island sex offender register

ONE of the North’s most powerful political committees has called for an all-island sex offenders’ register to track offenders moving between the two jurisdictions – but claims Ireland’s inferior laws might be a barrier.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has admitted there are legislative impediments which will have to be overcome before the register can be brought to fruition.

As regards the sex offenders’ register the committee expressed concerns about the legislative differences between the two jurisdictions. It pointed out that, amongst other things, data protection laws differ substantially.