Ahern publishes Interim Report on Restorative Justice

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D. today published an Interim Report from the National Commission on Restorative Justice.

Publishing the report Minister Ahern said "The Interim Report looks at how restorative justice is currently applied here and in other jurisdictions and points to the research based evidence abroad on the potential of restorative justice as an additional measure to combat crime. It is important that we have good empirical evidence to support this concept. Today’s report gives us some very positive information and the Commission will now continue its work to finalise its thinking on how best we might seek to expand the use of restorative justice."

Thanking Judge Mary Martin and the other members of the Commission the Minister said it is important that we are responsive to the needs of victims. In this regard initiatives such as restorative justice must be thoroughly assessed to establish how best they might be used to meet the needs of victims, offenders and communities impacted by crime. "We must look at all aspects and come to a clear view on how restorative justice might be applied in this jurisdiction", said Minister Ahern.

The Interim report highlights a number of issues which the Commission needs to study further including the extent to which restorative justice can help reduce re offending and better meet the needs of some victims and offenders for whom the traditional court process may not be satisfactory.

The Minister will give careful consideration to the recommendations contained in the Interim Report and looks forward to receiving the Commission’s final report in 2009.

Concluding Minister Ahern said "We must optimise all our policies and resources in the unrelenting fight against crime so that the citizen is protected, the offender is helped to rehabilitate and the best mix of policies are implemented."

The report is available on the Department’s website www.justice.ie

21 May, 2008