Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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137. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to implement Article 22 of EU Directive 2012/29/EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5935/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Article 22 of EU Directive 2012/29/EU (the EU Victims Directive) provides that each victim of crime will receive an individual assessment to establish if they have protection needs and if they would benefit from special measures during criminal investigations or court proceedings as outlined in Articles 23 and 24 of the Directive.

Administrative measures to implement the Victims Directive are in place by the criminal justice agencies. In the case of Article 22 assessments I understand that An Garda Síochána have made changes to their computer system to facilitate the making of the assessment of individual victims.

The Victims of Crime Bill which was published on 29 December, 2016 will, when enacted, give statutory underpinning to the assessment of victims. I am committed to having that Bill enacted as soon as possible.