McEntee pledges action plan on sexual violence within ten weeks

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has pledged to implement an action plan to tackle the scourge of sexual violence within ten weeks.

Among the measures will be education on the meaning and importance of consent and the provision of independent legal support to the victims.

She made the announcement following the publication of the O’Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences.

The Minister announced that she would develop an implementation plan, working with the NGO sector and stakeholders, and would report back to Government with a detailed plan of action within 10 weeks.

“As Minister for Justice, I want to ensure that we can effectively tackle the scourge of sexual violence, which is a blight on our society.

“We must work together to tackle and reduce the levels of these terrible crimes, and where an offence is committed, and where a wrong is done, we must ensure that all necessary supports are in place so that victims will feel safe and supported when they come forward.

“To do this, we must have in place a victim-centred approach. I want the victims of sexual crimes to know that they will be listened to, that they will be treated with respect and dignity, and that they will be supported throughout the process.

She said she wanted the perpetrators of such crimes to know that the crime they commit will be reported, will be investigated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“I want to ensure that the victims of sexual violence have the correct supports. That means access to their own independent legal advice or support, if they need it, someone who can be with them and explain the process and advise them throughout the process, not only while the trial is underway as is currently the case.

“I look forward to working with stakeholders and with the NGO sector to consider the report further and to develop an implementation plan which I will bring to government within 10 weeks. It is important that the voices of victims and those who work with them are clearly heard as we draw up our Plan.”

The Report published today contains over 50 recommendations, with four overarching recommendations: promoting better awareness of victims’ rights legislation; promoting education about the meaning and importance of consent; improving inter-agency co-operation and exchange of information, especially in relation to services for victims; and ensuring consistency in service delivery.

The Minister indicated that a number of actions would be immediately prioritised. These include working with the Legal Aid Board to ensure access to legal advice and support for victims, establishing a single, comprehensive source to inform victims of their rights and of available services, starting a public awareness campaign around the meaning of consent, completing the rollout of the Garda Divisional Protective Services Units across the country within two months, prioritising legislation to help avoid delay in sexual offences cases and developing specialist programmes of training for those involved in investigations and trials.