Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I thank the Minister for his kind remarks, as I do those of other Senators from across the House. This is much appreciated. This collaborative approach is something I am into in a big way and it is the best way forward.

This Bill, by curtailing and restricting the right to cross-examine, makes victims more central in our consideration. In a victim’s consideration of coming forward to make a complaint or to testify in court, more assurance, greater confidence and some peace of mind is afforded the victim that an accused person’s right to cross-examine her or him - because it can be either - in person is not guaranteed. It will be restricted and curtailed in accordance with law and in the interests of justice. It is important to protect victims against the additional serious trauma of the possibly intimidating prospect of an accused person conducting such a cross-examination.

In the time left I was going to conclude by going back to this provision of protection for the first time in sexual offences cases. Our good friend and former Senator, Deputy Ivana Bacik, said:

We are carrying out research in Trinity College Dublin into the real trauma that can be caused to complainants where a defendant chooses to cross-examine in person. Currently there is no such restriction in Irish law.

She called for greater movement and reform in this area. She was ahead of the people’s thinking in that respect and I acknowledge former Senator Bacik, who was speaking then in 2017.

I hand over now to my colleague, Senator Pauline O’Reilly, with whom I will leave the last words in this debate.