Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am referring to amendment No. 11. I said that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ruled amendment No. 10 out of order. The objective of the section is to try to create a framework by which members of An Garda Síochána will refer victims on to specialist agencies. We do not want to do so when there is a minor offence as that may not be appropriate. However, we need to ensure that there is a practice within An Garda Síochána so that people who are the victims of crimes and who report those crimes are referred on.

I know the concern about other aspects of this was that it was put in but the Minister wished it to be a discretionary remedy on the part of An Garda Síochána while other Members wanted to make it mandatory. I support the amendment but there is more to it than simply the amendment. We need to build up the practice within An Garda Síochána whereby gardaí refer victims of crime to specialist agencies.

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