High-risk offenders remain unfettered

THE Rape Crisis Network has accused the Government of making announcements that they will protect people from high-risk sex offenders upon their release into the community, but of failing to enact legislation.

* Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern held a press conference this time last year highlighting plans to introduce electronic tagging of sex offenders, set up multi-agency monitoring committees and use standardised risk assessments on sex offenders in prison. However, nothing has been done.

* Minister for Children Barry Andrews also promised this time last year, in the aftermath of the Church’s refusal to fully answer a HSE questionnaire on the handling of clerical abuse complaints, that he would quickly enact legislation allowing for the exchange of “soft information” on suspected paedophiles. The legislation hasn’t been published yet.