Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1182. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to research (details supplied) which shows an increase in domestic and financial abuse against older persons during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62981/21]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, and can confirm I am aware of the research from Sage Advocacy and, indeed, was asked to launch the report recently.
As the Deputy will be aware, in expectation of an increase in domestic violence at the start of the pandemic, gardaí launched Operation Faoiseamh to provide enhanced proactive support and protection to victims of domestic abuse.
This is an ongoing initiative designed to ensure victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected throughout the period. One measure of the success of this initiative was the increase in the number of files relating to domestic abuse going to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Launching the report from Sage Advocacy, among the findings that struck me was that older people and vulnerable adults were victims of crime but did not always have their voices heard and did not know where to turn for help.
The way our system has historically treated vulnerable victims of crime has, quite simply, not been good enough. The system didn’t protect them from further trauma. It is not surprising that this has, in the past, deterred people from coming forward. I also noted that among the findings in the report, victims in some instances “felt unsupported” when they did come forward.
I am absolutely determined to change this. One of my priorities as Minister for Justice is introducing the important reforms necessary to ensure our criminal justice system is more victim-centred.
Last year I launched Supporting a Victim’s Journey which is an ambitious plan of reforms and improvements to better support and protect vulnerable victims who engage with our criminal justice system. I am committed to implementing this plan in full.
To date, a number of key actions have been delivered including:
- Work to advance the training for all personnel who come into contact with vulnerable victims is underway;
- The University of Limerick has been commissioned by my Department to develop the framework for the operation and training of intermediaries. Intermediaries will be used to impartially facilitate communication with vulnerable people in the justice system;
- Divisional Protective Services Units have been rolled out nationwide. Their presence will ensure that vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic and sexual violence are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance from An Garda Síochána.
A review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services has also been conducted to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them.
Specific geographical areas and categories of victims which were not adequately covered by NGO supports were identified and at the end of last year, I announced extra funding for a number of organisations so they can address the gaps identified. This will help these organisations support victims, primarily by increasing phone line hours, counselling hours, and increased court accompaniment.
Separately, under Budget 2022, €4.9m is being allocated to supporting Victims of Crime. This includes the retention of emergency COVID-19 funding of €400,000 to address the impact of the pandemic on domestic violence services and an additional €785,000 in direct supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes.
Last year my Department published a new and expanded Victims Charter and set it out on a new website which sets out the rights of victims of crime and helps them find the services they need.
My Department is also working to raise awareness of the rights provided in the Victims of Crime Act 2017 online and off-line. This includes information on a range of topics such as how to make a report and what to expect if you are called to be a witness in a trial, what happens when the trial is over, and so on.
I know how important it is that this information is available in an off-line setting to ensure it is accessible to everyone and printed material is being distributed for display in certain public locations around the country.
In addition, various digital and printed elements are being translated into Irish and a number of other languages widely-used in Ireland to make sure it reaches all of our communities. We will soon begin working with frontline organisations to look at adapting our messaging as necessary to bring these initiatives to marginalised groups in Irish society.
Separately, my Department will soon be inviting partners to a newly established Victims’ Forum for state, social and community groups. This will allow groups to come together to facilitate information exchange and examine ways we can improve in relation to promoting awareness and understanding of victims’ rights
I am confident these initiatives will ensure that victims of crime will be supported, that they will know where to go for help, what to expect from their engagement with the system, what their rights are and the supports that are available at every step in the process.
