Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Again, I thank the Minister for his full response but I reiterate Senator Regan's point that this amendment is self-contained and would be a change to procedure rather than the substantive law. I welcome that the process to codify the law on sex offences is ongoing.

I should have declared my own interests, in that I am looking forward to working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions at a conference that we are holding in January to examine the process by which rape trials are run and the ways in which victims are treated therein. I hope we will feed into the ongoing law reform project in which the Minister is engaged.

While the amendment deals with a procedural matter, it is of some significance to victims and worthy of acceptance on its own merits.