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THE MINISTER FOR Justice will\u00a0examine a proposal which could enable judges to set a minimum number of years that those convicted of murder have to serve in prison.<\/p>\n
Proposals are to be brought forward to reform the law in relation to\u00a0life sentences as part of\u00a0the Government\u2019s \u2018Justice Plan\u2019 for 2022, which has been published today.<\/p>\n
Helen McEntee said that the plans for murder sentences will give the public more confidence in the justice system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The justice plan also includes a national strategy on tackling domestic and sexual violence, legislation to provide for body-worn cameras for Garda\u00ed, and the reform of Ireland\u2019s \u201cantiquated\u201d licensing laws \u2013 with a general scheme on the latter to be published within weeks.<\/p>\n
It is the second of a series of annual plans introduced by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, which contains the Government\u2019s aims for legal and policing reforms for the year, as well as longer term aims of policies under the Justice portfolio.<\/p>\n
Among the key aims in this year\u2019s plan that the Department has said have begun or are already completed, is the\u00a0\u2019Supporting a Victim\u2019s Journey\u2019\u00a0plan, which aims to \u201cput victims at the heart of the criminal justice system\u201d, and a new zero-tolerance national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender based violence.<\/p>\n
The plan also aims to prioritise the introduction of new specific criminal offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the death of Offaly teacher Ashling Murphy in January, McEntee said that the zero-tolerance strategy would be published in March.<\/p>\n
Plans to reform Ireland\u2019s \u201cantiquated\u201d licensing laws is in progress, with a general scheme to be published within weeks; and the reform and regulation of gambling, with work ongoing on landmark legislation to introduce a Gambling Regulator.<\/p>\n
In relation to An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the plan aims to enact legislation to provide for the use of body-worn cameras by Garda\u00ed \u201cto help with the investigation of crime and to protect frontline garda\u00ed\u201d.<\/p>\n
And new legislation on the duty of care will be brought as part of the Civil Law Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, due to be published in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
The Department said this \u201cwill build on the real progress made in reducing the levels of personal injuries awards through the personal injuries guidelines\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWork will progress to reform the courts system and increase efficiency while creating a family courts system that is less adversarial and more sensitive to the needs of families,\u201d McEntee said.\n<\/p>\n
\nAnd I also believe in a criminal justice system where the sentence matches the crime and I will bring forward proposals to reform the law in relation to life sentences.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Preparations will also be made for a \u201cpossible\u201d Irish bid to host a European Centre for the prevention and countering of child sexual abuse, if it is proposed.<\/p>\n