Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

236. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the urgent reforms he will introduce to ensure that victims of sexual violence in Ireland receive justice. [66455/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This Government is committed to ending sexual violence in all its forms, to strengthening protections for victims and survivors, and ensuring real accountability for perpetrators. This commitment is set out in the Zero Tolerance Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the most ambitious, whole-of-Government plan ever undertaken in this area, grounded in prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy coordination.

In June, I launched the final implementation plan for the strategy, which sets out clear actions, timelines, and lead responsibilities, ensuring that progress is measurable and transparent. It encompasses 95 actions. Priority areas include continuing national leadership and cross government alignment, advancing legislative reform, and upskilling front-line professionals across the health and social care sector, DSGBV services, the judiciary, courts, and other justice agencies.

Cuan, our statutory, dedicated DSGBV agency, continues to drive delivery, coordinate services, and strengthen accountability across the system. Funding increased to almost €80m under Budget 2026 to support Cuan and services working to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This represents an increase of €12m year on year.

The CSO sexual violence study published in 2022 provides a base line on the scale of the challenge but allows us to measure our progress more effectively. This ensures our actions, investments and reforms are targeted, accountable and evidence based. We are advancing a robust legislative programme to strengthen victim protections and hold offenders accountable.

This Government is fully aware of the distress and re-victimisation that disclosure of personal records can have on survivors of sexual violence, including counselling records. Last May I secured Cabinet approval for the drafting of the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which among other things amends the current statutory framework to ensure judicial oversight governs the disclosure of counselling records, and that disclosure only takes place when, in the Court’s opinion, it is necessary to avoid an unfair trial. Drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and is continuing at pace.

I am also progressing the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence, and International Instruments) Bill 2025, which will enhance the law on sexual consent, and modernise outdated terminology around child sexual abuse material.

Significant legislative reform has already happened in recently years, including the Sex Offenders Amendment Act 2023, which strengthens the robust management and monitoring of offenders in place. The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 provides enhanced protections for victims of sexual violence during investigations and court proceedings.

Legislating for preliminary trial hearings has helped to increase efficiency in how trials are run. This reduces delays and eases what can be a very traumatic process for victims. We have also undertaken a series of reforms under Supporting a Victims Journey to ensure the criminal justice system is more victim centred. These include

• The establishment of a course in the University of Limerick to train intermediaries to assist vulnerable victims with communication difficulties, including children, in navigating the justice system;
• Undertaking a mapping exercise to identify gaps in services and supports provided for victims, both geographically and by service type, and the provision of increased funding to address them;
• The establishment of a dedicated sexual offences unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
• The nationwide roll-out of Divisional Protective Services Units which ensures that vulnerable victims are dealt with by Gardaí who have specialist expertise;
• An improved Victims Charter website, providing a comprehensive repository of information for victims, which has a dedicated section providing specialist information for victims of sexual offences.