Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the fact that we have not been presented with the entire strategy and that there is more to it. The difficulty with the strategy is that it is a bit here, a bit there and a bit everywhere. That is why we have continued to argue since Second Stage that protections for victims should be included in the Bill rather than elsewhere. It would be preferable if the latter were done because we would not be obliged to rehearse these arguments when we deal, at some future date, with the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. I do not understand why protections are not included.

EU Council Directive 2004/81/EC, which deals with some of these matters, was not signed by Ireland. The deadline for signing this directive passed on 6 August. The provisions therein might have dealt with some of our concerns, even though, as the Minister stated, they may have led to the creation of some inducements. As stated earlier, however, the provision of shelter for victims should not be conditional on their willingness to give evidence. It would not, therefore, be an inducement. Our amendments are not seeking to create inducements, they are designed to put in place protections to ensure that people rebuild their lives.

If, during the period of reflection an individual decides to pursue, by means of prosecution, the person or persons responsible for his or her circumstances or the abuse he or she suffered, such a development would be welcome. The State would obviously have easier access to someone who is in a safe shelter and being provided with counselling to allow him or her to deal with the enormity of what he or she would be taking on by going to court and detailing the abuse he or she suffered.

I urge the Minister to re-examine this matter. I also urge him, even at this late stage, to try to ensure that protections beyond those contained in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill are included in this legislation.

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