Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be very keen to do so and in that regard I would welcome an early return of the Executive in Northern Ireland to allow me interact on a face to face basis with an appropriate colleague in the Executive.

To ensure that victims and complainants feel comfortable coming forward to report their experience it is important that we have sufficient training on the part of the Garda. In that regard I want to point out the establishment of the National Protective Services Bureau to oversee the investigation of a range of crimes, including sexual offences. The divisional protective service units are staffed by dedicated officers and will include the investigation of sexual offences in their remit. To date the training in these units has concentrated on domestic abuse. I am very keen this will move forward. I acknowledge the importance of the training workshops and I assure the House that every effort will be made to ensure the Garda Síochána has an appropriate level of resources to facilitate a level of training that accords with best international practice.

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