Not at all. I suggest that we should go even further and that there are other areas that have been brought to our attention that need to be included. I understand from where Senator Black is coming. I have just come from a family justice forum where we spoke about the family justice system and how abuse can continue into the courts. It is no different when we are speaking about these types of orders. We cannot remove a person's ability to be heard. A garda can come in on behalf of a person where an order is put in …

I thank Senator Ward for his remarks. I agree with him on the reason people do not come forward.

A Report Stage amendment to this section is being considered.

Section 14C(2) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 provides that where a person is accused of a sexual offence and the alleged adult victim of the offence is to give evidence, "the court may direct that the accused may not personally cross-examine the witness unless the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require the accused to conduct the cross-examination personally." This amendment broadens the scope of this protection to cover relevant offences. Within the meaning of the 1992 Act, a relevant off…

I know the Senator has raised this point before, particularly the requirement to write down everything that happens in an interview. The advice I have been given is that I have the ability to change this under regulations, section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act or by amendment to the custody regulations. Obviously, that has not happened and perhaps this area needs to be updated. A separate police powers Bill is being worked on and the advice given is that this legislation would be the right place to do this. The ri…

As the Senator said, the first part has already been done. There has been an update and there is a review under way for the subsequent piece. Until the review is done, I will not be pre-emptive. This is an area on which the Senator and I should work together.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is because he raised it that these changes are being made. The Minister, Deputy Harris, previously gave a commitment that amendments would be tabled. As the Senator said, there is a lacuna in the law. Looking at it in practice, there are very few children who receive a life sentence but, as the Senator said, there can be transitional cases where someone turns 18 or 19 years during a case or a case may even occur many years later. There is also another element we need t…

This amendment was discussed extensively on Second Stage. It increases the maximum penalty for assault on gardaí and other peace officers from seven years to 12 years. We are all very conscious of the dedication and commitment of our front-line workers and the risks they take in the course of their duties. Recent violent incidents have shocked us all. Any police force, but particularly an unarmed police force, depends on absolute respect for the safety of its officers. We cannot accept any violence at any level. Wh…

I thank the Senator. As he said, he has worked on this for some time. I also thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who has also worked on progressing this matter. In the past year, we celebrated 100 years of the Garda. As the Senator said, those members go out every day, say goodbye to their loved ones and do not know what they will face on a day-to-day basis. We are sending a clear signal and message to anybody who would stop, thwart, assault, hurt or harm a member who is carrying out his or …

On Report Stage, there will be an amendment to section 55 to facilitate the appointment of a deputy chairperson to the mental health review board.

I will introduce amendments on Report Stage to facilitate the provision of assistance to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

This amendment provides for consequential amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009 and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. It follows the pattern in those Acts of scheduling matters that might be subject to regulation of online media. It covers the new offences provided for in this Bill relating to stalking, harassment and non-fatal strangulation. The effect of this is to allow the online safety commissioner, working under Coimisiún na Meán, to develop online safety codes which require certain online pl…

Amendments Nos. 36 and 38 are intended to correct a number of technical issues in the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act. Apart from correcting certain drafting and cross-referencing issues, they will allow for the data retention reforms of the 2022 Act to be commenced with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It will also allow for the 2022 reforms to be commenced with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the category of user data. I will table a number of small amendments in this…

The amendment provides for a change in the composition of the DNA database system oversight committee. The provision being repealed provided for a member of the committee to be appointed by the Data Protection Commissioner. The Data Protection Commission has raised concerns around this provision and its compatibility with the fundamental requirement of the commission to be completely independent in the performance of its tasks. The repeal of this section will address this concern. In its place, we are making provis…

I wish to flag in respect of section 23 that I will introduce Report Stage amendments providing for restrictions on the publication of the identity of alleged victims of harassment and stalking offences under the section. I am sorry but I missed that section when we were going through the Bill.

Not at all. It is good to get it done.

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2023 and ending on 29th June, 2024. The two motions before the House seek the approval of Dáil Éireann to continue in force provisions of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 aimed at tackling terrorism, and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 in respect of organised crime. Given the…

I am grateful to the House for its consideration of these motions and thank all Deputies for their contributions, especially those who support the motions. The very real threat to our society that comes from dissident republican paramilitary groups and the brutality of ruthless crime gangs needs an effective and particular response from the criminal justice system. As I mentioned before, these threats are now very interconnected. As legislators we have a duty to support the Garda and the justice system in tackling …

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2023 and ending on 29th June, 2024.

I thank the Senator for raising this really important matter today. I would like to extend my sympathies to the family of Aaron Keating and anybody who has been affected by knife crime. Any kind of death is devastating but when somebody is murdered in this way, it has a ripple effect throughout the entire community. It is important to note, and the Senator touched on this, that for the most part, Ireland is a very safe country. Our crime rates are low compared with other similar jurisdictions. The Senator mentioned…