9. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which he plans to address the concerns of a campaign (details supplied) which has advocated for sentencing reform and victims’ rights in Ireland. [70447/26]
Topics / Sentencing Policy
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsSentencing Policy
48 questions from 22 TDs, between 5 February 2025 and 7 October 2026.
48
questions
44 written, 4 oral
22
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
1
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 10 |
| March 2025 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 0 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 7 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 3 |
| October 2025 | 3 |
| November 2025 | 1 |
| December 2025 | 1 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 2 |
| March 2026 | 6 |
| April 2026 | 1 |
| May 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 4 |
| July 2026 | 2 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 1 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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8
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7
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4
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3
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3
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2
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2
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
591. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons that were convicted of a criminal offence in the State, who received a custodial sentence, were deported or removed from the State on completion of that custodial sentence; the nationality of those persons; the principal offence category for which they were convicted, by year, in each of the past five years an…
592. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of non-Irish nationals who completed a custodial sentence and who were not deported or removed from the State following their release; the reasons they were not deported or removed, including where deportation was not legally possible, where legal proceedings were ongoing, where international protection or leave to remai…
504. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of orders granted under Rule 59 of the Prison Rules in 2024 and 2025; whether a circular or other guidance document exists regarding the procedure for the enhanced remission process under Rule 59, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46948/26]
505. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the policy in place to ensure fair procedures and consistency across the prison estate for the decision-making process under Rule 59 of the Prison Rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/26]
506. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the information provided to the applicant where he makes a negative decision under Rule 59 of the Prison Rules, having considered the matters contained in subparagraph (f); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46950/26]
507. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the appeals mechanism that exists following a decision made under Rule 59 of the Prison Rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46951/26]
5. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he intends to extend the provisions of section 14 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024, requiring that character references be given on oat to other criminal offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35914/26]
2120. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the community schemes in place to replace sentences; the activities that are engaged in; the person or body which organises these activitivies; the area in which they are carried out in the county and the of kind occupations involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25865/26]
12. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment he has made of the impact of suspended or short custodial sentences on victims of child sexual abuse whose abuse material is circulated online, whether there is evidence that current sentencing levels act as a meaningful deterrent to child sexual abuse material offending and the legislative or policy tools he is prepared …
20. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason, in the context of sustained public concern about lenient sentencing in CSAM cases, including statements by the Tánaiste calling for a more serious approach, he has indicated that he does not intend to change the current sentencing rules; whether he considers this position to be reconcilable with his obligations to ensure tha…
22. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific reasons the Government has not introduced mandatory minimum sentencing legislation for persons convicted of possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), given the frequency with which such offenders receive suspended sentences; and whether he intends to bring forward such legislation before the end of t…
41. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he expects new powers to enable him to ask the Judicial Council to draw up sentencing guidelines for a particular crime area within a certain timeframe to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20785/26]
46. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Government's failure to introduce minimum sentencing for CSAM offences is connected in any way to concerns about prison overcrowding and capacity; whether he accepts the Tánaiste's statement that prison capacity must never be a factor in sentencing decisions; whether he agrees with the Tánaiste's statement that there are "to…
66. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has examined the sentencing frameworks for CSAM offences in comparable jurisdictions, such as Britain, or other EU member states; and whether Ireland's current legislative approach falls below international best practice. [20211/26]
783. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he or his Department have considered any legislative proposals aimed at strengthening sentencing outcomes for offences involving assaults on members of An Garda Síochána, in light of conviction and sentencing trends recorded by the Courts Service for the years 2021 to 2025; and if not, the reasons no such policy action has been…
797. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is considering introducing mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders involved in public order disturbances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/26]
373. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will increase minimum sentences for assaults against women to act as a greater deterrent and help safeguard women (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68698/25]
1277. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which the Government's relationship with the Judicial Council in terms of its sentencing guidelines function operates; if it is open to him as Minister, or to the Government, given the need to respect judicial independence, to bring the Judicial Council's attention to matters of concern which may be relevant to the dev…
283. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the average custodial sentence imposed in cases of child sexual abuse over the past five years; and the number and proportion of such convictions in which part or all of the sentence was suspended. [54166/25]
284. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide the average sentence handed down in rape convictions over the past five years; and the number of convictions in which a portion of the sentence was suspended. [54167/25]
417. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the share of offenders that are offered restorative justice/practice as part of their sentencing in 2024, and to date in 2025. [53374/25]
1454. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has plans to introduce mandatory sentences for those who assault members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44502/25]
1473. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider introducing a mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of assault on frontline workers that is, Gardaí, prison officers, healthcare staff, Fire Services personnel, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44761/25]
1479. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures being considered to introduce mandatory sentencing for those convicted of assaulting Gardaí, particularly in light of the recent spike in knife-related attacks.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44884/25]