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Victim Support Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Questions (32, 42, 60)

Richard Bruton

Question:

32. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the progress that is being made in implementing the plan Supporting a Victim's Journey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25982/22]

View answer

Emer Higgins

Question:

42. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice the steps her Department is taking to support victims of crime through the judicial process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26070/22]

View answer

Colm Burke

Question:

60. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken to improve the operation of the criminal trial process for victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26076/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 42 and 60 together.

I would like to thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. 

My Department 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.

The implementation of Supporting A Victims Journey, my plan to give effect to all 52 recommendations arising out of the O'Malley Review, continues to be a priority.

I chair the Implementation Oversight Group for this work and at its last meeting in February I received an update on how each of the actions are progressing. I am happy with the progress that is being made, thanks to the shared dedication of all participants to reform our criminal justice system and to make sure the needs of the victim are paramount.

To date, some of key actions delivered as part of the implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey address areas of the trial process identified as being traumatic for victims. The reforms introduced will help to make sure they are not victimised further by the processes they need to go through in order to seek the justice they deserve. Some of these actions include:

- The introduction of preliminary trial hearings which will reduce delays and increase efficiency in how our criminal trials are run and will remove some of the uncertainties victims face about potential issues arising after a trial has started. While Preliminary Hearings will not change the fact that a trial is an adversarial process, their introduction should make trials more predictable and help them run more smoothly;  

- 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;

- An academic consultant from the University of Limerick has been tasked with developing the framework for the operation and training of intermediaries. I announced the launch of the new qualification programme at the University of Limerick earlier this month. Once training of these intermediaries has taken place, a pilot will take place in two locations; one in Dublin and one in a rural area.

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 last November my Department engaged with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we met the gaps identified.

As regards the progression of the sexual offences legislation recommended in the O’Malley Report, work has started on drafting the heads of a General Scheme of a Sexual Offences Bill, which is expected to go to Government later this year. The Bill will make provision for:

- Extending victim anonymity to further categories of victims

- Repealing provisions for sentences to be delivered in public

- Legal representation for victims in certain cases.

Other initiatives being progressed, which are intended to assist victims to be aware of their rights and know where to go to get support, include: 

- The publication of an updated Victims Charter and a supporting website which sets out all the information a victim of crime might need in an easily accessible and user friendly way;

- A campaign to raise awareness of the rights afforded to people under the Victims of Crime Act 2017;

- The establishment of the Victims’ Forum for state, social and community groups to discuss how best we can work together to meet the needs of victims. 

In addition to our work to reform the criminal justice system so that it better supports victims, I recently announced funding for 2022 totaling €4.6m for more than 60 organisations that provide support to 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.

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