Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Just last week, I held a meeting with about 50 representatives from a variety of victims' groups. I also held a meeting of criminal justice agencies to discuss the implications of the victims' directive, which has to be legislated for later this year. The implementation of that legislation will have a strong impact on some of the points the Deputy has raised, including the relationship between victims and various elements of the criminal justice system. In addition, it will give better information to victims and keep them informed.

As regards the Deputy's point about the use of medication, there are real concerns that this is not sufficiently incorporated by some of the bodies examining deaths. However, as the legislation on the victims' directive is introduced and begins to be implemented, it will have serious implications for behaviour in all of these bodies, whether it is the coroner's court or elsewhere within the courts system. Responses to victims will need to be much more robust and, in addition, victims will need to be told what their rights are. Representatives of the criminal justice agencies will be expected to have much better contact with victims.

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