All may not be revealed

The Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures Act 2016 sets the standard for disclosure.

Dublin castle garda station The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 commenced on the 29^th April 2016.

The enactment of this legislation brings Ireland in line with most other EU states in providing that people convicted of relatively minor offences can eventually leave the past behind and look to the future with confidence.

What convictions will be spent?

In accordance with the provisions of the Act the following convictions will be spent:

· All convictions in the District Court for Motoring offences which are more than 7 years old will be spent, with the proviso that spent convictions for dangerous driving are limited to a single conviction.

· All convictions in the District Court for minor public order offences which are more than 7 years old will be spent.

· In addition, where a person has one, and only one, conviction (other than a motoring or public order offence) which resulted in a term of imprisonment of less than 12 months (or a fine) that conviction will also be spent after 7 years. This provision will apply to either a District Court or Circuit Court conviction.

It is estimated that about 85% of convictions will become spent after 7 years as a result of this Act. The Act does not apply to any conviction for a sexual offence or an offence which was tried in the Central Criminal Court.