Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said he is not closing his mind to mandatory sentences for house burglars.
Mr Ahern says he has been in daily contact with the Garda Commissioner about the robbery at the Waterford home of 82-year-old Paddy Barry, who died yesterday.
The Minister said there is already very strict laws relating to burglary where someone found guilty can get up to 14 years in prison and can be sentenced to a maximum of life in jail for aggravated burglary involving a weapon or violence.
Asked if he was satisfied judges are giving appropriate sentences for burglary, Mr Ahern said judges are independent and have to decide on circumstances in each case but that he will not close his mind to mandatory sentences.
However, he said the Government has endeavoured to bring in mandatory sentences for serious drug offences and to a certain extent it has not worked well because of the independence of the judiciary and because each case is different.
He said that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances where a mandatory sentence would be somewhat unfair on the family of someone involved in the incidents.
Mr Ahern said the Law Reform Commission was preparing a report and draft bill about what reasonable force a householder can use in defence of their house.
He said the bill is due to be completed before Christmas and the Government will move very rapidly when it is received.
Mr Ahern was speaking as he launched two new websites - www.victimsofcrimeoffice.ie and www.csvc.ie - to help victims of crime.
The Victims of Crime Office is an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, established in September 2008.
The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime is an independent body, operating under the aegis of the same Department. Its secretariat is provided by the Victims of Crime Office. The Commission began its work in 2005.
The main task of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime is to provide funding to voluntary sector organisations engaged in the provision of services and supports to victims of crime.
