Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that non-Government motion No. 11 on the Order Paper be taken without debate before No. 1.

I also wish to raise the sex offenders register. Yesterday, I heard the case of a young woman, and it is covered further today, who made her identity public recently. She was raped at 11 years of age and last year found out by chance, as she lives in a small town, that the rapist was appealing to be removed from the sex offenders register. She waived her right to anonymity as she is seeking that victims be notified when their attackers seek to be removed from the register. There is no formal process by law for victims to be notified. This is a flaw in the system. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to address this in the House? He has said that there are proposals for a new sex offenders amendment Bill, which I believe is in the drafting stage, to ensure victims are notified of the intention to remove an attacker or rapist from the register. This would keep victims safe and informed.