Draft Strategic Approach for Victims and Survivors 2008
Good Friday Agreement implementation Committee - Consultation Meeting - 25/09/08
Senator Ivana Bacik: I join colleagues in welcoming the commissioners and wishing them the best of luck with their important work. Deputy Conlon has already mentioned the victims’ rights Bill which has been promised for a long time and has a long genesis and background. I am grateful to Deputy Conlon for raising the point that is important that the Bill deals not only with so called ordinary victims of crime, but also victims and survivors of the conflict.
As someone who has done some research on the needs of victims of crime in this jurisdiction I would be grateful if the commissioners, perhaps at a future date, could provide Members of the Oireachtas with practical information or suggestions as to how best we can incorporate some of the specific needs of victims and survivors of the conflict. There are many common needs, but it would be useful if this was addressed at some future date, including how we could incorporate the needs of victims of conflict in particular. That is one practical thing we could all move forward together on.
