I presume that was because the offence in that case predated the new legislation brought in requiring oral evidence in respect of references in cases of sexual offences. As a result of the amendment, this provision will now cover all indictable offences.

Amendments Nos. 24 to 27, inclusive, have been grouped. They relate to Part 11 of the Bill, which concerns the International Criminal Court. They are of a minor and very technical nature.

These are the amendments in respect of the disregard section of the Bill, which is Part 15. Amendments Nos. 30 to 36, inclusive, and 39 to 41, inclusive, are minor textual amendments to make certain terms and references clearer and more precise. The purpose of the remaining amendments is to make the provisions relating to the revocation of a disregard clearer and more robust, including certain procedural steps that could otherwise be regarded as implicit. Amendment No. 37 inserts a new section obliging a relevant p…

These amendments concern the use of electronic means. The main body of the amendments relate to passenger name records. I will briefly deal with amendments Nos. 43 to 45. These put in a new Part 17 relating to electronic technology in certain proceedings. Amendment No. 43 inserts a new section defining the types of proceedings in question. Amendments 44 and 45 insert two new sections to provide respectively that court rules may, in relation to such proceedings, make provision for the electronic transmission of docu…

Amendment No. 82 makes a number of technical amendments to the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020. It also repeals two redundant provisions of the 2020 Act. Amendment No. 83 amends the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021. It is a purely consequential amendment to take account of the proposed insertion in this Bill of a provision for statements of truth in criminal and international co-operation proceedings. Amendment No. 92 amends the long title consequential on amen…

I echo the remarks of the Taoiseach and every Deputy who has spoken in this debate this afternoon in acknowledging, first and foremost, the courage of the victims who have brought these failures of the State into the light. This report stands testament to the perseverance of both those who join us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery this afternoon and those who have chosen to maintain their anonymity. The bravery of all the victims represents the foundations on which Mr. Justice White's report is built. I was for…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to present the Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026 to Dáil Eireann. The genesis of this legislation is in October 2025, when the drafting of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill was approved by Government. In May this year, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its report on pre-legislative scrutiny of that general scheme. Last month, I…

I thank all Deputies for their contributions. I acknowledge the fact that, unusually, every person who has spoken in this debate is in support of the legislation. That is a very positive sign in respect of what we, as a House, are seeking to do in terms of changing the law. On many occasions, understandably and correctly, the legislative process is adversarial and people disagree with legislative proposals being put forward by one side or the other. However, in this instance it is instructive that there is widespre…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss certain Government amendments to the Bill, which I have submitted ahead of Report Stage this afternoon. I look forward to hearing from Members. I am going to be brief in my opening remarks and talk about the substantive amendments. The first substantive amendment is to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984 to provide a statutory basis for the admissibility in proceedings of certificate evidence of the results of applicable drug tests carried out by Garda members. Gardaí have for ma…

I thank Senators for their contributions. I will start with the last point made by Senator Higgins. I hope Senators realise that I have great respect for the role and mandate of Seanad Éireann. I actually enjoy being here listening to Senators, and discussing and debating legislation. It is correct that a large number of amendments are coming on Report Stage but they relate predominantly to the passenger name records part of the legislation. It is a provision that already exists in regulations. The purpose of the a…

Amendment No. 25 inserts a new section into the Bill to amend section 10 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984. It inserts new subsections (2) to (6) into section 10 to provide the statutory basis for the admissibility of certificates of results of Garda-administered presumptive drug testing, PDT. It introduces a legal presumption in favour of the evidential value of such certificates, subject to rebuttal evidence. PDT was introduced by Garda circular in 2011 with the agreement of the DPP. It is used to test cannabis, ca…

I thank Senator Higgins for her contribution. At the outset, I will identify the purpose of the amendment I am proposing on Report Stage. It is to facilitate, to speed up and to make more efficient prosecutions within our courts. For instance, if there is a prosecution relating to 10 g of cocaine, an issue to be determined by the court is whether the substance that is alleged to be cocaine is in fact cocaine or whether it is simply sugar or flour. For the purposes of that prosecution, it is obviously essential that…

I am happy to accept that point. I thought that was clearly the point I was making. However, as I said to Deputy Gannon last night, the reason I am opposed to this recommendation is the same reason that British Columbia, which introduced decriminalisation of drugs for personal use in 2021, and Oregon, which introduced it in 2020, are now reversing those measures. The reason these jurisdictions are now reversing those measures relates to a point the Oireachtas committee made in its report, which is that one of the c…

We are not.

The Government supports a health-led approach. A health-led approach, however, does not necessarily mean that there has to be decriminalisation of drugs for personal use. A lot of work is being done, along with my colleagues in the Department of Health, to ensure that health-led approach is central to how the State responds to the scourge of addiction. At the same time, we need to ensure that we have laws in place. On section 3, I know there are other provisions to deal with the issue. However, we need to recognise…

There is.

It is because this offence is prosecuted and presumptive drug testing done by An Garda Síochána is used for these prosecutions. Some District Courts accept it, others do not and it is seen to be more appropriate that it is put on a legislative basis. That is why it is there in respect of section 3. I will look in due course to see whether it can or needs to be extended to other provisions within the Misuse of Drugs Acts, but that is the reason it is being used.

Amendments Nos. 2 and 36 to 39, inclusive, are amendments relating to character evidence which were put forward by Deputy Carthy on Committee Stage in the Dáil and which I said I would consider. I did not accept them on Committee Stage. I considered them and I accepted them on Report Stage. What happened on Report Stage is we have inserted, through Deputy Carthy's amendment, a new section into the Criminal Justice Act 1993 to provide that where a person is convicted of an indictable offence, character evidence for …

And you still can.

You still can.