Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has presented a bill to the Dáil which would ensure that children who commit murder - and who turn 18 before sentencing - would no longer face a mandatory life sentence.
The issue was highlighted by the High Court, which this month ruled that, in such cases, the mandatory life sentence should not apply.
The case which prompted the ruling concerns two teenagers charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry in December of last year.
The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 would amend the Criminal Justice Act 1990 to dis-apply the mandatory life sentence for children who are convicted of murder but who are "aged out".
Minister McEntee told the Dáil that "a more nuanced approach" to sentencing is appropriate for those aged under 18, but that this is not available to those who turn 18 before sentencing.
The amendment aims to address this "inequality", she added.
With several murder trials in the coming months - "including a sentencing hearing next month" - relating to this "cohort", this must be addressed as "a matter of urgency," the minister said.
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said that his party supports "legal certainty" on the issue and would not be opposing the bill.
But he said that "considerable work" remains to be done on sentencing for gangland killings
His colleague Imelda Munster accused Minister McEntee's party, Fine Gael, of having failed to get a grip on sentencing depite 14 years in Government.
Labour TD Brendan Howlin tabled an amendment which he said would tackle a lack of clarity in the bill.
"If the mandatory sentence does not apply," he asked, "what law then applies?"
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín agreed with the need for clarity, and also urged that a graduated approach be used to deter particularly 16 and 17 year olds from engaging in serious crime.
Rural Independent TD Mattie McGrath and his group colleague Michael Healy Rae both condemned criminals targeting gardaí, and a lack of garda recruitment.
Minister McEntee said that she is doing everything that she can to increase garda numbers and pointed to the role bodycams play in increasing garda safety.
The bill will proceed to committee and remaining stages tomorrow.
