Vol. 513 No. 1
646 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the provisions, if any, available in courts for the use of video link for evidence given by victims of sexual offences under 17 years as provided for in the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992; the further plans, if any, he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1046/00]
A closed circuit television system called video link was installed in the Four Court in 1993 to facilitate evidence given by victims of sexual offences under 17 years of age as provided for in the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992. There are six courtrooms and two remote witness rooms cabled for video link at the Four Courts and the system is used by the District, Circuit and Central Criminal Courts. The question of the need to provide video link facilities at provincial venues is currently under examination. In the meantime, under the 1992 Act, cases can be transferred from venues which do not have video link facilities to a venue which has such facilities.
Section 15(1), (2), (3) and 16(1)(b) of the Act of 1992 have not yet been brought into operation. These sections provide for admitting in evidence video recordings of statements made by alleged victims under 14 years of age of sexual or violent offences to a member of the Garda Síochána or other competent person. In October 1998 I established a committee to draw up guidelines for those who will be involved in video recording the statements of such victims. The committee made an interim report to me in October 1999. When the committee has completed its work I will be in a position to commence the relevant sections of the 1992 Act in full.
