Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Bill as a common-sense measure to help protect victims of sexual violence. I thank my colleague Deputy Carthy for bringing it forward and my colleague Senator McCormack for her involvement. Deputy Carthy and his team worked on it as a direct response to the engagement they had with victims and advocates. One of those women spoke really honestly about her fear and dread knowing that the man who raped her as a child will be released in the coming years. There is nothing that can prevent him from approaching her in a shop or on the street while she goes about her life. She said, "There is nothing you can do that will make me feel safe the day he walks outside those prison gates".

Unfortunately, she is right. The Bill is not retrospective. It will help to ensure no other victims must endure the same fear and worry when the person who attacked them is released. It must be passed. I acknowledge the Minister is not opposing it but let us work together to support the victims. Every day there is a delay in enacting the Bill means other women and men will not be able to avail of its protections. We have a problem with delays in enacting legislation in this area. For example, we do not have a ban on the use of victims' counselling notes in courts. That has made victims reluctant to go to counselling for fear that what they say will be used in a courtroom.

There are many actions we need to take in the broader area of tackling sexual violence and abuse, not least addressing the lack of domestic violence shelters, expanding the capacity of specialist sexual violence centres and investing in the protective service of the Garda. Survivors' voices must be at the heart of shaping policies in this area. We need to listen to survivors. The Bill proposes a very clear change in the law whereby victims will feel they have a real impact on their own lives. We must ensure we work together to implement it as soon as possible.

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