Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Everyone in the House will recognise the bravery of Ms Bláthnaid Raleigh who waived her right to anonymity in a traumatic trial. An issue highlighted in the case related to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, which allows counsellors’ notes as admissible evidence. Victims’ rights groups have highlighted this threat of admissibility as making victims think twice before taking a case. England is pursuing new legislation to provide extra protections in this regard. Will our Government go further and prohibit fully the inclusion of victims’ counselling records in trials? I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that we cannot have people’s right to pursue justice, but also their right to pursue health restoration, impacted by the current legislation.

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