Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
372. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he plans to provide for the disregard of certain historic criminal convictions arising from consensual sexual activity between men, following comments by the Tánaiste (details supplied); the timeline for same; if he will support a Private Members Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68673/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Victorian-era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men are now rightly recognised as a historical injustice. A multi-stakeholder working group was established in 2021 to examine the development of an application-based scheme for the disregard of such convictions, and produced its final report in 2023. The report contains 95 recommendations covering matters such as the range of offences that should be included, the eligibility criteria for a disregard, the legal effects of a disregard, and the procedures for applications, decisions and reviews.
These matters need to be carefully addressed in a statutory scheme that is legally and procedurally robust, efficient and fair. This Government has committed to introducing such a scheme and I am determined to honour that commitment as soon as possible.
I am pleased to say that my officials are close to finalising draft legislative proposals providing for a disregard scheme and I hope to be in a position to progress matters in the new year.
