Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 10, line 48, after "competent" to insert "and suitably trained".

This amendment seeks to add an extra layer of qualification to the intermediary provided for in section 6 which inserts a new section 5A into the 1993 Act which allows questions be put to a child or person with a mental disorder through an intermediary who in a court's opinion is competent to act as such. It is appropriate to add the term "suitably trained". The giving of evidence of a child or a person with a mental disorder is a sensitive area. It would be useful for a court to have some indication as to competence. "Suitably trained" adds an extra safeguard.

I complimented the Minister and the Courts Service on Committee Stage on the excellent new facilities in the criminal courts complex. One of those facilities is the new room where children may give evidence through a live television link. The facilities are hugely improved and make the experience of giving evidence much less traumatic. It is equally important that the intermediary is both competent and suitably trained and that a court would be satisfied of that before appointing one.