Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

It does. I agree with the Minister. The ICCL makes the point it does not consider that the proposed amendment of criminal procedure rules will result in any significant changes for the victims of crime. The central and unique selling point of this Bill is that it is about making significant changes for the victims of crime. Referring to the document it published some years ago, "Better Deal", the council refers to the fact that the majority of crime victims do not see rules of evidence and criminal procedure as an effective means through which to vindicate their rights. They wish, rather, to see real practical changes in their treatment within the criminal justice system. Amendments to the regime surrounding the use of victim impact statements are a welcome development. However, the victims of crime should be placed centre stage in any reform of the law and the Bill currently fails in that regard.

For example, the Bill does not identify the personnel who will guide victims through the victim impact procedures, whether these be the Garda, the judge, the Courts Service or any others. To some extent that pours a bucket of cold water over the proposition that this Bill is a giant leap forward for victims. It is a modest reform which I welcome but the matters referred to in what was a seminal document, published some years ago by the ICCL, are still worthy of attention as is the possibility of amending this Bill to provide for some of the tangible changes that body sought.

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