Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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644. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to amend the Parole Act 2019; and if he will address the need to ensure that persons such as the next of kin of a person (details supplied) are not excluded from future processes. [34228/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Parole Board, as provided for under the Parole Act 2019, was established on 31 July 2021. The 2019 Act placed the parole process on a statutory footing and established an independent, statutory Parole Board to decide on parole applications independently from the Minister for Justice. This legislation also refers to provisions in the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 in dealing with victims.

The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, transposes Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council into Irish law and provides for a comprehensive framework of rights for victims of crime, establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

In July 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a Directive amending the Victims Directive which is still the subject of ongoing negotiations between the Council and the Parliament.

Once negotiations at EU level are finalised, officials in my Department will, as a matter of standard practice, review our victims legislation and policies during the transposition process.