Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2020-12-17
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James Browne (FF), Wexford

Unfortunately, I cannot give a specific timeline. I will ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to provide a timeline in respect of when the additional legislation is expected to be brought forward in the new year.
Amendment No. 18 proposes the waiving of anonymity of a victim. That is not considered necessary. The Minister indicated on Committee Stage that she is satisfied that the matter can be considered within the interests of justice test, as set out in section 5. The aim of these provisions is to protect the victim from being identified, not the perpetrator, and, as such, the wishes of the victim will be taken into account. However, in light of the concerns raised on Committee Stage, the Minister has introduced amendment No. 20, which will ensure that there is an obligation on a judge to take into account the views of an alleged victim of an offence under section 5. Therefore, I ask the Deputies not to press this amendment.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-12-17