Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill is warranted in the context of so many young women who fall foul of sexual violence and sexual attack and do not come forward. Very often, they do not come forward because of what they read in the newspapers and because of the atmosphere around all of that. They see these trials as a re-victimisation of the person and a degradation of their humanity. That is what happens in many cases when we have this type of aggressive cross-examination. The introduction of clothing in that manner, in that particular case and in others, has shone a bright light on the situation. As Deputy Ó Laoghaire pointed out, the Bill is about dealing with this specific aspect. If we deal with that aspect, we will have the opportunity to reassure people that the State is on the side of the victim and that we are not just allowing this type of situation to continue as it has for so long. Many women whom I have spoken to and I am sure many of us in this House have spoken to have been traumatised by what has happened to them and to their friends and colleagues in the past. It would be an appropriate step for this House to bring this Bill forward along with more legislation that I am sure is badly needed in this area.

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