Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 118:

In page 23, to delete lines 25 to 27 and substitute the following:“(a) the right of—

(i) a parent, relative or friend of the victim,

(ii) where the accused person is under the age of 18 years, a parent, relative or friend of the accused person, or

(iii) an appropriate person under section 17,

to remain in court, and”.

This technical amendment clarifies that if the court excludes the public or a portion thereof from courtroom proceedings and the accused is a child, his or her parent, relative or friend may remain in the court. The original text intended to provide for this but it is unclear.