Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
153. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to improve the operation of the criminal trial process for victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16050/22]
View answerThe Department of Justice is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support victims of crime. When a victim of crime begins to engage with the justice system they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process.
Central to achieving this is 'Supporting a Victim's Journey' - our plan to implement the recommendations of The O'Malley Review. Supporting a Victims Journey is an ambitious plan to introduce important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure our criminal justice system is more victim-centred.
The O’Malley Review looked at the journey a victim faces from the moment a crime is committed against them, to the initial reporting of the offence right through to the end of any court proceedings and beyond, because the journey for a victim doesn’t end with a verdict.
I am deeply committed to implementing in full all of the actions set out in Supporting a Victim's Journey and I am chairing an Implementation Oversight Group comprising all relevant departments and agencies responsible for driving the implementation of the agreed actions.
To date, a number of key actions have been delivered as part of implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey including:
- The introduction of preliminary trial hearings;
- The nationwide rollout of Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSUs);
- The first cohort of staff at a new sexual offences unit in the Director of Public Prosecutions office formally took up their roles in April;
- 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 training and accreditation operation and training of intermediaries.
Key areas of the trial process that were identified as being traumatic for victims and survivors of sexual violence are being addressed in order to make sure they are not victimised further by the processes they need to go through in order to seek the justice they deserve.
Preliminary trail hearings will reduce delays and increase efficiency in how our criminal trials are run by allowing for certain matters to be addressed in advance of the trial itself starting. In addition to the above, a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services has been conducted to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports were identified and my Department engaged with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we met the gaps identified.
Recently I announced funding totalling €4.6m for more than 60 organisations to support victims of crime. This is an increase of over 20% on the previous total fund of €3.8m which was made available in 2021.
I am confident that through increased funding, together with our work to implement the actions set out in Supporting a Victims Journey, we will ensure that have a system that removes fear and empowers victims to have the confidence to report an offence, knowing they will be supported, informed and treated respectfully and professionally for the entirety of the difficult journey they have to face.
