Proposal to let parents seek information on sex offenders

Proposed legislation will allow parents to ask gardaí if someone in contact with their child has a sexual conviction or poses a serious danger to children or vulnerable adults.

Under the draft bill, gardaí will be able to disclose information to parents if they believe there is a genuine risk to children.

Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten said his private members’ bill would enable parents or guardians carry out inquiries with local gardaí in situations where they have real concerns about someone who has access, including potential access, to their child.

“I have come across a number of instances of people with serious convictions living in communities and some of whom go on to re-offend,” said Mr Naughten.

He said some people in communities — gardaí, prison officers and HSE staff — often know about particular individuals living there, but that parents were the “last to know”.

The Meath deputy said, that under the Child Sex Offenders (Information and Monitoring) Bill 2012, parents would be entitled to contact gardaí and seek information.

“If someone’s behaviour raises suspicions, parents or guardians can go to gardaí and inquire about them and if the gardaí believe there is a risk to children or a vulnerable adult they can disclose certain information.

“Parents can’t seek information about any individual, only someone with direct or indirect contact with their child.

“It could include someone hanging around the school gate or playground, where there is the potential for that individual to have direct contact.”

“It could include a neighbour, say if they were looking over the wall every time they [children] are out. Parents have to give reason for their inquiry. They have to be valid reasons.”

It would also provide a similar entitlement for persons in authority in schools and clubs, he said.

The system would have parallels with Sarah’s Law in Britain, which allows members of the public to ask the police for disclosure about people with unsupervised access to children.

The law refers to eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered in 2000 by a sex offender.

But Mr Naughten said his law would be more restricted.

He said the bill now goes to second stage, adding that private members’ bills operate “like a lottery” as to when they progress through the Oireachtas, during which it will emerge whether or not the Government will back the bill or oppose it.