David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

The Irish Independent recently reported on a case where an uncle-in-law abused his niece. The Minister should as an amendment include uncles-in-law and aunts-in-law in the list of persons in authority because it is a close relationship. I am also concerned about section 5 for the reasons outlined by other speakers.

I refer the House to a meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights held on 23 May last. It may be of particular interest to the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, as it concerns the lack of rape crisis facilities in County Kerry. The committee record makes harrowing reading. The committee heard from the representatives of 13 NGOs. They outlined the lack of a sexual assault treatment unit and the lack of forensic medical examinations for victims of rape, not just in County Kerry but throughout the country.

The witnesses stated that under-reporting cuts across many jurisdictions but that Ireland experiences the highest number of cases falling out of the system before coming to the courts. In spite of a sustained increase in the number of reported cases of sexual violence, we have a lower conviction rate — the witnesses suggested we convict only 5%. They maintained the criminal justice system has found it notoriously difficult to deliver justice for victims of sexual violence, which is an important area. The witnesses maintained that the low conviction rate will discourage women to report and that the legal process is very slow, making an already traumatic experience even more so. The lack of services discourages women from reporting sexual violence.

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland has produced a position paper on this issue, with which the Minister might familiarise himself. It calls for specialist training and education for all agencies in the criminal justice system and an ending, in particular, of the current "no reasons for decisions" policy of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and its replacement with a mechanism that is accountable.

The witnesses referred to a pilot scheme initiated in April 2002. It operated very successfully in spite of the fact that no resources had been allocated. A total of 60 clients were seen and supported but in spite of ten GPs expressing an interest, there was no back-up from the Department. I ask the Minister to brief himself on these important issues.

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