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

I move amendment No. 101:

In page 21, line 10, to delete “investigation,” and substitute “investigation of, or any criminal proceedings relating to, the alleged offence, or”.

Amendments Nos. 101 and 102 amend the wording in section 15 that relates to the revised amendment to make it clear that a revised amendment can identify protection needs, which may benefit the victim both during the course of the investigation and during criminal proceedings. The latter had been omitted in error. There is also a lack of clarity in the language used relating to protection needs and special measures that could preclude additional special measures being identified in a revised assessment if protection needs, but no special measures, were identified in the original assessment.

The effect of my amendment is to broaden the provision to ensure that a revised assessment can cover all circumstances and identify any change to the protection needs and special measures identified. It is an enabling provision that broadens what already exists and I ask Deputies to support my amendment.