Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 6

Written Answers. - Sexual Offences.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

104 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends to act on the recommendations made in the report launched by him on 10 April 2001 which recommended changes in the prosecution of sexual assault cases and urged the provision of greater resources to ensure that rape cases were processed more quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

213 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of rape cases reported in each of the past three years; if charges and convictions have followed in all such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15323/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 213 together.

The statistics requested by the Deputy are published in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána, which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent year for which they are available is 1999. Although data for the year 2000 have not yet been finalised, I understand that provisional Garda figures for the year indicate an increase in the number of rapes, which is, of course, a matter of concern. In this context, I recently commissioned and launched a research report entitled "Attrition in Sexual Assault Cases in Ireland: A Qualitative Analysis", which describes victims' interaction with various parts of the criminal justice system.

The resulting recommendations have implications not only for a number of areas of that system but also relate to wider social, health, education and media issues. I can confirm that I have referred the report and its recommendations to the national steering committee on violence against women, which is chaired by my colleague, Deputy Mary Wallace, for further consideration. The Deputy will be aware that any change in the prosecution of sexual assault cases is a matter for consideration by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is entirely separate from and independent of my Department.

However, I have taken action on delays which have existed in the processing of cases in the Central Criminal Court and at a number of Circuit Court venues. I obtained Government approval for the appointment of an additional High Court Judge, who took up duty in February 2000. I also recently published the Courts and Court Officers Bill, 2001, which provides,inter alia, for a further increase by one in the statutory number of High Court Judges. Furthermore, I obtained Government approval for the appointment of an additional judge of the Circuit Court, and this appointment was made in January 2001.

I understand the President of the High Court, in order to deal with the increase in the number of cases coming before the Central Criminal Court, has increased the number of judges sitting in that court to four and that consideration is being given to the allocation of a fifth judge.

Question No. 105 answered with Question No. 70.

Question No. 106 answered with Question No. 103.