David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That provision is in the Bill. Obviously, it would depend on the nature of the offence and the criminal charge that might be laid later. It is a subjective judgment that gardaí must make. They are doing it in the best interests of the victim.

I am concerned about a provision in the amendment, that being, "a victim shall be given reasonable opportunity to make alternative arrangements". This implies that the victim is under a direction of the Garda or the ombudsman, but that is not the case. Victims can take all the time they like to replace the persons accompanying them. They can do it straight away. It is up to them. They are completely free to make any arrangement that they wish.