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

I thank the Minister for Justice and Equality and the former Minister for Justice and Equality for the work done on this important legislation. I acknowledge the role played by the justice committee. We had good review of this legislation at the justice committee. As Deputy Daly said, we had presentations from the Victims' Rights Alliance. I too wish to acknowledge the role played by Maria McDonald.

It is important legislation. It may not get the same coverage that other legislation can get in this House. However, for the first time serious legislation dealing with the rights of victims has been put before the Oireachtas and has got through Dáil Éireann today. I hope it will not be long before it is fully enacted and in law.

For many years the criminal law has concentrated on the rights of the accused and on the obligations of prosecutors when it comes to prosecuting the accused for criminal offences. It is right and proper that those laws should exist in statute, but for too long the rights of victims and the place of victims in the criminal justice process has been ignored. I welcome the fact that this legislation will signify the fact that victims of crime are taken seriously by this State. Our legal system recognises that they have a role to play. Our legal system recognises that the State acknowledges that it and its officers have a responsibility to victims of crime. I hope that in future victims of crime will take their place as individuals who are acknowledged by this State as being individuals who have in many instances suffered life-altering experiences.

It is incumbent on all of us, not only legislators but those in An Garda Síochána, the Ombudsman and other individuals involved in the criminal justice system, to ensure that this legislation is actively used. We do not want this to become legislation that sits on the shelf and is sometimes availed of. That is why it is important to continue working on some of the provisions that are discretionary in the legislation. We should move to ensure that these become mandatory in future and that greater emphasis will be placed by the State agencies, whether An Garda Síochána or other agencies, on the fact that when a victim comes to report a crime, that victim has rights that will be acknowledged and respected by the State. It is a good day because this is being passed through Dáil Éireann.

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