New figures show that more than 123,000 arrest warrants are outstanding.

Most of the warrants - 118,954 - were issued between 2000 and 2011.

In reply to a parliamentary question from Labour's Kevin Humphreys, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said that as of 21 May, the Garda Pulse system recorded 123,696 bench, penal and committal warrants as unexecuted.

The minister also stated that 46% warrants are executed within three months, 70% within six months and 87% within a year.

Mr Shatter said that the vast majority of warrants do not relate to violent or more serious offences, which are given priority.

Most of those outstanding, he says, are penal warrants relating to imprisonment for non-payment of fines.

He said that 93% of penal warrants relate to road traffic, public order and theft offences.

The minister also expressed concern that the figures may not be reliable.

He said that “warrants continue to show on the Pulse system until such time as they are recorded as being finally disposed of.”

The minister said he has asked the Garda Commissioner to consider whether there is a better way of maintaining the statistics which would give a more realistic indication of any backlog.

He has also asked the Commissioner to report back in six months in relation to outstanding warrants and indicate whether any legislative or administrative changes are required.

Mr Humphreys said it was important that warrants are served in a speedy manner and that the figures are accurate.

In his reply, Mr Shatter also said that he has been assured that gardaí are closely monitoring the situation with a view to ensuring warrants are executed as expediently as possible.

He also said senior gardaí across the country are tasked with managing the execution of warrants and a working group is also looking at the issue.