The Bill provides in section 4(10) for persons providing counselling services to have similar defences to those available to a medical professional treating the victims. In submissions to the Oireachtas joint committee a number of organisations which provide counselling and support services for victims of sexual abuse made the point that they often had to work with victims over an extended period of time before the victim could reach a decision whether to report an offence to the Garda. I am anxious that in such circumstances the victims are not discouraged from accessing supports which they need because of concerns that in seeking them it will be a requirement to immediately report the crime to the Garda for the purposes of a criminal investigation or subsequent prosecution.