The Government is to give ex-offenders a second chance under new laws, it emerged tonight.
The proposals are designed to reduce the rate of re-offending in Ireland by automatically wiping the criminal record of people who serve six months or less in prison.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan today won Cabinet approval for the Spent Convictions Bill 2008 and it could become law within weeks.
The Bill was introduced in the Dá il in October by Government TD Barry Andrews. The Fianna Fail TD claims he will make history as the first Government backbencher to see his own Bill become law.
"I have a background in law but the success of this Bill shows that a TD can combine constituency work with legislative work," he said.
The proposals were studied by Department of Justice officials and the Attorney General's office and minor Government amendments are expected before being enacted.
Mr Andrews said: "I believe that the Bill is sensible and proportionate and provides an antidote to the present 'hang them and flog them' obsession in the criminal justice system.
"There are two sides to criminal justice and the rehabilitation side is often overlooked."
The Bill will give former offenders a better chance of obtaining jobs because they won't have a criminal record on the application form. Mr Andrews' proposals apply to all offences except murder, sexual crimes or those tried in the Special Criminal Court.
The Bill will typically give a second chance to people convicted of minor drug charges or public order offences.
The offender can apply seven years after the date of his/her conviction to have the jail sentence wiped from his/her record.
The five-page Bill is modelled on similar legislation in Britain and the US and Mr Andrews said he drafted it in response to calls by those working with ex-offenders for action in this south Co Dublin constituency.
Traditionally, bills are only introduced in Parliament by Government ministers or Opposition spokespersons.
Mr Andrews is currently chairman of the all-party Joint Administrative Committee. In 2006 Senator Terry Leyden introduced his own Bill on wills in the Seanad.