Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
289. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports available for the families of victims of crime abroad to help them to attend court dates and trial hearings that may be financially prohibitive independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6405/19]
View answerI understand that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through its Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin and the Irish Missions worldwide, provides a range of supports to Irish citizens and family members who are victims of crime abroad.
This can include, for example, providing practical assistance such as help in finding English speaking legal and medical practitioners, in dealing with the police, in making travel arrangements and in liaising with family members back home, for example.
I am informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that while the Consular Assistance Unit and Missions abroad make every effort in assisting Irish citizens who experience crime abroad in these ways, there is not a funding scheme in place to provide financial supports directly to the families of the type raised by the Deputy.
The provision of such funding is an issue which would need to be considered in the context of the wider issues surrounding any decision to extend the provision of supports for victims of crime and to their families in cross border situations.
These wider issues include, for example, the reimbursement of expenses to victims and/or witnesses in order to participate in proceedings abroad and the related provision of translation and interpretation services as required.
These are matters which will be raised with the European Network on Victim Rights, of which Ireland is a founding member. This is a network of Government officials involved in their respective victim support policy areas across the EU Member States.
The Network has been established in order to further strengthen the supports to victims across the European Union and to enhance the co-operation of the Member States in the area of victims’ rights against the background of the European Union Victims Directive.
