Vol. 429 No. 7
70 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she will give details of the physical and technical arrangements that have been made to allow the giving of evidence by tourists, who have returned home to their own countries, by means of television link, in accordance with the recent provisions of the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992.
The provision contained in Section 29 of the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992 is an enabling provision and in accordance with Section 1 (3) of the Act will be brought into operation by the making of a commencement order.
Priority in implementing the provisions of this Act was given to the implementation of Part III of the Act and the commencement order bringing Part III into force has already been signed. This part of the Act provides that the evidence of a witness under 17 may be given by live television link in special categories of cases including sexual offences and offences involving violence. The technical equipment necessary for its implementation has been introduced on a pilot basis in the Four Courts. A video link system has been provided in the refurbished Morgan Place wing of the Four Courts and three courtrooms have been fitted out with special equipment. The equipment purchased is designed to accommodate live television links with other jurisdictions. The performance of this equipment in "video link" trials will be closely monitored before progressing to the introduction of Section 29.
The additional technical arrangements necessary to implement section 29 of the Act will then be fully considered and assessed.
