Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will be sick of me. There is also a component with this whereby the new cross-examination powers lack the safeguards for vulnerable witnesses. Re-traumatisation is a really common thing for survivors of domestic violence during financial proceedings. Perhaps we could consider the option of having examinations conducted through written submissions unless the complainant requests otherwise. The Minister of State might review this. This procedural protection would remove a significant barrier to justice without compromising the investigative powers of the ombudsman. That is something that might be considered.