Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 23, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:“(3) Where a victim of an alleged offence has been assessed under section 14 and the Garda Síochána or the Garda Ombudsman Commission, as the case may be, has identified specific protection needs in relation to the victim which are special

measures within the meaning of this section, the prosecutor shall inform the court of the outcome of that assessment at the beginning of the trial of the offence at the latest.”.

In accordance with the spirit of the amendments that have been proposed, and in order to give the victim a reasonable and fair hearing in the court and for the information pertinent to all matters being considered, this amendment seeks to ensure that the protection needs of the victim are brought to the court's attention. This amendment will help to ensure that the victim's perspective is not overlooked. It is about strengthening the perspective of the victim and making sure that all the relevant information relating to the victim, particularly if he or she has protection needs, is salient to any considerations to be made in the courtroom.