Minister for Justice Alan Shatter is set to publish a bill providing for the removal of certain criminal convictions after a number of years.
The Criminal Justice Spent Convictions Bill applies to custodial sentences of one year or less, as well as a range of other non-custodial convictions.
It allows for a conviction to be declared spent as long as the offender does not commit any further crime for a period of between three and seven years.
This bill is, according to the Minister for Justice, designed to help those who no longer commit crime by helping them to get work.
It only applies to offenders sentenced to 12 months or less, or to lesser penalties such as fines or community service.
The offender must remain conviction-free for three years after a small fine, or seven years if he or she has served a one-year jail sentence.
Sexual offences, as well as those to be tried by the Central Criminal Court, are excluded. No more than two convictions per person may become spent.
A range of employments, including those relating to the security of the State, the administration of justice and other sensitive positions, are excluded and a person will have to disclose their convictions when applying for certain licences, such as those for taxis and private security.
