Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

We are keen to reflect on the best international practice. A decision on whether a complainant's previous history should be opened up in court, or is relevant to the case in question, is best left to the trial judge, in the absence of the jury. The exclusion or inclusion of such evidence is fraught with difficulties. I think the current practice should continue. It is obvious that we will continue to consider what is happening in other jurisdictions, and perhaps learn from the mistakes that have been made in this respect.

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