Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The House has dealt with many issues recently related to violence against women, sexual assault, sexual violence and rape. There is no more heinous crime than rape. It can have a life-long impact on people, women in particular, so we need to ensure that all the protections of the justice system are put in place. All the updating of law is to be supported, whether we are dealing with consent, protections in the court setting around anonymity or separate legal representation. All of these are absolutely vital.

We are all aware of the issue with character witnesses. This testimony is easily offered but it can be part of what is almost a retraumatising of victims. It is vital that it is required to be made on oath or via affidavit.

We owe the Women of Honour a huge amount for the work they have done in highlighting legacy issues in the Defence Forces and the lack of a fit-for-purpose method for dealing with cases of sexual assault and rape. It is a stain on the State and we need to make sure we deal with it by all necessary means of inquiry. It is vital that we provide the capacity to An Garda Síochána to deal with the issues as they pertain to the Defence Forces. The matter should have been dealt with a long time ago but we are all very supportive of having it dealt with now.

We live in a world with huge levels of organised crime and despicable organisations that involve themselves in trafficking. It goes without saying that anything required to protect victims of trafficking, whether children or women, and to ensure we have the capacity to deal with it from an investigative point of view should be available. That is particularly the case as regards the protections that are required. It is the least we can do when we are dealing with crimes so bad they cannot be comprehended. We need to ensure we have all the pieces that need to be put in place.

Sinn Féin is very supportive of this legislation. I hope we can bring this to a better place.

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