Spent Convictions Bill broadly welcomed

SEANAD:MINISTER OF State Barry Andrews yesterday introduced legislation - to rehabilitate criminals - which he had brought to the Dáil a year ago as a Private Member's Bill.

The Spent Convictions Bill, welcomed in principle by all parties, will allow a conviction to be "spent" or not used against an individual seeking employment after a rehabilitation period of seven years, "in respect of a custodial sentence for a term not exceeding six months, and five years for non-custodial sentences".

Mr Andrews said the "core message in the Bill concerns the need to facilitate the rehabilitation of convicted persons", taking "account of the wider interests of society, especially the protection of vulnerable persons".

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said Ireland was one of only a few countries without such a scheme but he was concerned that careers excluded include "the legal profession; all who work in the civil and public sectors; and some in financial-related employment".

Labour spokesman Pat Rabbitte referred to sex offenders. "A recent UCD study found that sex offenders are less likely to reoffend than most other groups," he said. "It must be borne in mind that under the proposed scheme, sex offenders will have to establish before a central authority that they have been rehabilitated and this should go towards reassuring the public."