Vol. 486 No. 6
27 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce an appropriate court accompaniment scheme to prepare and advise witnesses and victims in advance of an appearance before a court of criminal law in relation to domestic violence within the criminal justice system. [3322/98]
A court accompaniment scheme for victims, whether of crimes of domestic violence or otherwise, is operated by the Irish Association for Victim Support with funding from my Department. The association has a full-time staff to assist in its administration while trained volunteers accompany victims to court, if they so desire.
The service is available in the Central Criminal Court, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and District Courts as well as family law courts in the Dublin area. With the help of significantly increased funding from my Department, plans are being drawn up to expand the service countrywide.
I recognise that the needs and requirements of all victims, including victims of domestic violence, are deserving of the most effective supporting mechanisms possible. It is for this reason that I intend to introduce a new charter for victims of crime, the drafting of which will be assisted by the deliberations of the conference on victims of crime organised by my Department last December.
As regards assistance to witnesses, my Department published booklets some time ago explaining what happens in court. The objective was to allay the fears and apprehensions young people may have at the prospect of going to court. While it is intended to publish similar booklets for adults, much of the information available is relevant to them.
The provision of booklets is of no help or assistance to those involved at the coalface of the criminal justice system. I refer the Minister specifically to the position of victims before conviction. In almost all cases involving domestic violence the victim is also the chief witness for the State. The machinery employed by the State is grossly inadequate and lacks compassion and sensitivity. There is a need to ensure the introduction of a familiarisation course, as part of which the victim will be brought through the evidence. The State refuses to do this. Until this happens victims will have little or no confidence in the criminal justice system.
I am satisfied and was satisfied on the Opposition benches that there is a need to improve the lot of victims. A charter for victims of crime will be introduced. I am committed to the welfare of all victims particularly those mentioned by the Deputy, the victims of domestic violence. I have increased the allocation to the Irish Association for Victim Support from £280,000 last year to £645,000 this year. Having examined the plans of the association for the next three years, I am satisfied this funding will be used well and effectively to promote the welfare of victims. The national steering committee on violence against women has recently been established under the chairmanship of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace. It will address a wide range of victim related issues.
I recognise the need to improve the lot of victims and I have taken a number of steps in this regard. The explanatory booklets are not sufficient in themselves but they are of some assistance. It would be unfair to suggest otherwise. A charter for victims of crime will be introduced. I anticipate this matter will be discussed during the deliberations of the crime forum when it commences its work at Dun Laoghaire Town Hall on 26 February.
(Mayo): Will the Minister accept that this matter is more urgent than he appreciates? Its urgency is heightened by the figures released last week by the Irish Federation of Women's Refuges which show that there was a 25 per cent increase in the number of distress calls from beaten and battered wives, from 9,177 to 11,400.
A question, please.
(Mayo): What is being done to place domestic violence at the top of the Government's agenda? There has been much talk about zero tolerance in relation to serious crime. There is not a more serious crime than domestic violence or a more graphic example of brutality than somebody arriving at a refuge battered and bruised with a few children or a more graphic example of official indecision and inaction than 1,000 people being turned away last year.
The Government recognises there is a need to do more for victims of crime. That is the reason the amount available to the Irish Association for Victim Support has been increased substantially this year. The national steering committee on violence against women has recently been established under the chairmanship of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace. Like my colleagues in Government, I am concerned about the increase in the number of women who have to avail of the services of refuges or crisis helplines. The statistics show that there were 20,000 distress calls and that 2,000 women and over 4,000 children were accommodated in refuges in the two year period 1996-7. I sincerely hope all women are becoming fully aware that they do not have to suffer in silence.
In general, there is a clear recognition by the Government of the need to address this extremely serious problem. That is why the measures I outlined are being taken. I am confident that through those and other initiatives the problem can be successfully addressed.
Will the Minister indicate how many victims and what proportion of all victims availed of that service? Is he satisfied enough is being done to acquaint people of the existence of that service given the awful problem with which we are dealing?
I do not have those figures because the question before us relates to domestic violence. If I can assemble those statistics I will be happy to forward them to the Deputy.
Now that the Minister accepts the urgency of this matter is he prepared to state to the House when he will introduce the long awaited charter for the victims of crime? Will he ensure when it is introduced it will contain a proviso that will ensure that no convict in custody will be released from prison back into the community without the victims concerned being informed of that imminent release as that is a source of great concern?
I cannot give Deputy Flanagan a precise date as to when the charter will be introduced. A useful conference on victims of crime was hosted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Dublin Castle last September and its deliberations will be of considerable benefit in framing the charter. I envisage the crime forum discussing this matter further. I would like to have its report on this matter before deciding to proceed with the publication of the charter. I am committed to it and I told Victim Support in Ireland that I will fulfil the commitment I gave in Opposition to publish the charter in due course. It can be taken as practically certain that the charter will be published this year but I cannot give the Deputy a precise date at this point.
