Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I only just copped the grouping. Amendment No. 14 is simple and was proposed on the advice of Rape Crisis Network Ireland to provide more detail of the kinds of support that victims should be informed of on first contact with the authorities for the avoidance of doubt. The Minister of State will surely say that gardaí would specify medical supports, appropriate specialist services, psychological supports and alternative accommodation, and maybe they would, but maybe they would not. Some gardaí might not consider alternative accommodation to be a necessary support. Some might not be aware of the full benefit of, for example, recommending to someone counselling services and other psychological supports. I see no harm in including this provision. The organisations at the coalface believe that it would be an addition.

Amendment No. 28 has been ruled out of order. Amendment No. 30 concerns referrals to appropriate support services. The rationale for this is that section 6(8) provides that a "member of the Garda Síochána or an officer of the Ombudsman Commission... may, where a victim consents, arrange for the victim to be referred to a service" whereas the victims directive refers to "shall". The directive also refers to victims having access to confidential victim support services and so on in accordance with their needs. The amendment's reference to "an appropriate and/or specialist service" is an attempt to bring us into line with the victims directive such that gardaí shall arrange a referral to services. This is about tightening up definitions.