Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will put in place a scheme to provide for criminals to pay direct compensation in cash to their victims; the way such a scheme would operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18415/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, as early as my first public engagement as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I announced my intention of moving ahead immediately with measures to enhance support for victims of crime. In particular, my Department is making arrangements to put in place a Victim Support Agency to champion the rights of victims and to ensure that victims have a voice which is heard clearly throughout our criminal justice system. As part of this process and under the new agency's mandate, the support measures already in place will be evaluated, including the arrangements which exist to financially compensate victims of crime.