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have very little time so I will quickly mention two issues about our legal system. We put people through the most obscene legal misogyny. The first thing I will mention is the DPP because this is an issue that needs more attention. We all know of the case … counselling notes being used in any way. This has not received the publicity it deserves, but it has come out and said that as a society, as a professional organisation, it calls for "an immediate end to the practice of accessing therapy notes in legal cases involving rape

explore every legal and constitutional mechanism to ensure that institutions are held to account and contribute meaningfully to any redress scheme. Just as important is how we support survivors today. I commend the Government on ensuring clear information is available on how survivors can access counselling, report abuse

Last week in the House, I raised with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, the urgent need to extend legal aid to whistleblowers who step forward not for personal gain, but to protect the public interest. In that exchange, the Minister expressed his willingness to meet me and the whistleblowers … Gorman, were also briefed. The office of the then Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, was so concerned that it offered the whistleblower free counselling after receiving a detailed account of what occurred. The retaliations from Tusla continued and the attacks deepened. The information we have obtained shows there

first country to recognise same-sex marriage through popular vote in 2015 and enacting the Gender Recognition Act that same year, which allowed legal gender change through self-determination. Clearly, our work is not done. In just the past few months, we have strengthened hate crime legislation. Since … centred standard of care. I have met many young trans people in the last five years. They are looking for respect, compassion, appropriate counselling and supports such as endocrinology, psychology, social workers and, if appropriate because not everybody will need it, psychology. That is the multidisciplinary team that

civil law and criminal law (miscellaneous provisions) Bill's general scheme. I hope to introduce that Bill, including the provision in respect of counselling notes, in the Houses of the Oireachtas later this year. I also received permission from the Government to put into that legislation proposals … Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 ensures anonymity for victims in all trials for sexual offences, extends the victim’s right to separate legal representation if they are being questioned about their previous sexual history and ensures character evidence at a sentencing hearing for a person convicted

could have the expertise to facilitate them in getting barring orders. As I said before, it is my intention to improve the civil legal aid scheme and I hope to be able to publish the reports I have received in respect of it recently. I will also look … offence. I would have thought, however, that most of those offences would be prosecuted on indictment. Deputy Coppinger talked about the issue of counselling notes. It is the case, notwithstanding her views, that the advice I have received is that to prohibit access to counselling notes