Vol. 459 No. 8
4 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the measures, if any, she intends to introduce to make the judicial system more user-friendly and receptive for victims of crime and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18917/95]
A number of measures have already been taken in recent times to make the judicial system more user-friendly and receptive for victims of crime. These include: the provision in some courthouses of accommodation facilities for use by the Association for Victim Support and the commitment for such facilities in all refurbished courthouses; the provision in new and refurbished courthouses of family law suites where family law cases can be dealt with apart from the main court business; the grant-aiding of the Association for Victim Support by my Department since 1985; the introduction in the Four Courts, Dublin of a closed circuit television system, known as video link, to enable persons under 17 years of age to give evidence without having to go into the courtroom in cases involving sexual offences and offences involving violence; in cases where a witness is giving evidence through video link, neither the judge nor the barrister or solicitor concerned in the examination of the witness is permitted to wear a wig or gown — the wearing of wigs by barristers and solicitors in family law proceedings is also prohibited by statute; in cases involving sexual offences or offences involving violence, the court shall take into account and may receive victim impact reports in determining the sentence to be imposed — I understand that the courts are seeking such reports on an ever-increasing scale; and in the context of judicial training, funding was made available to the Chief Justice for a conference in May 1994 on the effects of crime on victims of crime at which outside experts spoke.
I am committed through the courts building programme, to providing the most up-to-date facilities for all persons who attend court. Included in this programme is the provision of rooms for the use by the Association for Victim Support. In so far as is practicable the victim support rooms are provided in an area away from the courtroom area to provide an element of privacy for the victim prior to and following the court hearing.
I am particularly pleased by and welcome an initiative being taken by the Chief Justice in setting up a Judicial Studies Institute which will have responsibility for induction courses for newly appointed judges and continuing courses of education and training for members of the Judiciary.
In line with other measures I am taking to make the courts more user-friendly, a range of information booklets is in the course of preparation in my Department for the benefit of adult victims/witnesses, child victims/ witnesses and their parents.
I have recently appointed a working group on a courts commission whose terms of reference include the review of "the operation of the courts system, having regard to the level and quality of service provided to the public" which would include victims of crime. I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the working group in this regard.
The Government's policy agreement, A Government of Renewal, gives a commitment to draw up a charter for victims of crime and work on this charter is at an advanced stage in my Department. I hope to receive a first draft of the charter before Christmas and I will be liaising with the Association for Victim Support before finalising the charter.
Is the Minister aware that victims and their families often do not hear evidence in court because of the poor acoustics? Is she further aware that in a murder case gruesome photographs that may be passed around the court by counsel and others unwittingly cause extreme distress to members of the deceased person's family? Will the Minister accept that not only should those matters be rectified but at the very least a room in the courthouse should be provided for victims and their families where they could be given refreshments and treated with dignity?
I will reply to the Deputy's last question first. I explained that I have commenced providing victim support rooms in courts. I recently opened the District Court in Cork and met a victim support group there.
That is only one.
There is such a facility in a number of courts. Victims did not appear on the scene only yesterday and at least I am doing something to provide support for them now. It will take some time to complete the refurbishment programme and provide a victim support room in all courthouses, but we are making progress.
The practical matter of victims and their families not hearing evidence in court was raised with me when I met members of the Association for Victim Support during recent weeks. I have asked them to list the courts where the acoustics are creating that type of difficulty. They brought to my attention the effect on victims of gruesome implements and photographs left lying on the table. I indicated to them that I would raise that issue with the working group on the courts and get word back to the judges. Weapons are usually left on the table, but it should be possible to change that bad practice.
Will the Minister favourably consider providing a civil servant, an officer or a clerk of the court to advise victims and or their families of precisely what is taking place in the trial in question? Often people do not know what is going on and become extremely confused, agitated and depressed.
That suggestion has been made to me. I am aware that in many instances, victims report that they get great assistance from the court officers but from time to time they can feel isolated. The Association for Victim Support provides a good service and often accompanies a victim into court, so that they have somebody sitting there. I was disturbed to hear that in one instance they were asked to leave the court. That should not happen. I will raise the question of appointing an officer when I am considering the charter for victims of crime.
I am taking Question No. 5 in ordinary time, for obvious reasons.
