Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I do not wish to repeat myself but if we were to put this on a statutory basis, we would create more restricted bureaucratic procedures and a basis for challenge by the legal profession. We would remove the flexibility that exists in the system at present. There was a time when victims were not notified or given a liaison officer but that has changed dramatically in the past several years, mainly due to initiatives such as the victim's charter. The existing legislation and substantial administrative arrangements for victims' rights are working well, although I would be willing to amend them on occasion. We are bringing forward the revised victims' charter and will ask for the input of victims' groups, which are by and large happy with the existing statutory and consultative arrangements.