Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the preparations that have been made for the implementation of the EU directive on victims; if it is planned to alter the PULSE system prior to implementation; if PULSE will record and monitor racist and hate motivated incidents; if the ethnic origin of victims will be recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44452/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I have stated previously in the House, the Directive, which covers all victims of crime, is due to be implemented by the Member States by the 16th of November 2015. I believe that the provisions of the Victims of Crime Directive will strengthen supports to victims of crime in Ireland. Work is continuing in the Justice system to put appropriate arrangements in place to give effect to the provisions of the Directive.

My Department is drafting legislation to transpose the Directive into Irish law and I expect that the Heads of a Bill will be published early in 2015. It is my intention to have legislation enacted to comply with the Directive by the November, 2015 deadline contained in the Directive.

While the management of the PULSE system is in an operational matter for the Garda authorities, I have sought a report from the Garda Commissioner on the specific issues raised by the Deputy in this regard and will be in touch with him when this report has been received.