Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Article 8.3 of the directive also refers to this, establishing the right to specialist support services, "in addition to, or as an integrated part of, general victim support services... shall have access to such services... in accordance with their specific needs and the degree of harm suffered as a result of the criminal offence". I agree with Deputy Daly that by including the reference to appropriate specialist services, we are actually following the letter of the directive. I do not think it is a huge request to include that provision as we are not excluding any services that may be provided. We are recognising that, in certain cases, specialist services may be needed.