The Government is set to agree new information-sharing measures between the Garda and police forces in Britain aimed at improving the monitoring of sex offenders.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will present proposals to Cabinet in the next fortnight for a memorandum of understanding which would allow for the formal exchange of information between both jurisdictions relating to sex offenders.
The move stops short of creating a central sex offenders' register for Britain and Ireland, but would create formal information-sharing arrangements for the first time. The development comes at the same time as a database aimed at improving the monitoring and management of sex offenders was launched in the North by the PSNI.
Minister for Children Brian Lenihan, who has responsibility for child protection, said he was very receptive to any proposals which would help cross-Border co-operation.
"There are legal obstacles in the way of creating an all-Ireland register, but these moves are very welcome," Mr Lenihan said.
Information-sharing between Britain and Ireland on sex offenders has taken place before.
However, sources say it has been largely on an ad hoc basis and dependent on the commitment of local forces and the availability of resources.
In Britain, police forces and other agencies have to date relied on local database to record details of sex offenders.
New measures will connect police to a national computer network so that officers can easily share information.
The PSNI says it hopes other partner agencies in the North will connect to the Violent Offender and Sex Offender Register (Visor).
It is estimated that there are over 800 people on the sex offenders' register in the Republic.
