Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Provision was made in section 14C(2) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 that where a person is accused of a sexual offence and the alleged adult victim is to give evidence, the court may direct that the accused may not personally cross-examine the witness unless the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require it.

This amendment essentially broadens the scope of this protection to cover "relevant offences" within the meaning of the 1992 Act, which includes offences involving violence or the threat of violence, coercive control, forced marriage and certain other offences. It will also include the new stalking and harassment offences and breaches of civil orders under section 28 of this Bill.

Extending the scope of this provision will help safeguard more victims from intimidation, retaliation and re-victimisation in a courtroom setting. I am hopeful that providing this protection will encourage more victims to come forward.

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