Sex assault victims have hit out at the Government’s failure to fully ban the use of counselling notes in trials under new legislation, saying Ireland will still be in breach of international human rights obligations. She said the Government's decision not to fully ban the use of counselling notes in sexual assault trials is a wilful continuation of the violation of victims' rights and it remains at odds with CEDAW’s recommendations. The Government's legislation, published in recent weeks, includes restricting the use of counselling notes in sexual offence trials, but stops short of an outright ban. Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) director Clíona Saidléar said that asking a judge to make a decision on the use of counselling notes is not a “tidy” way of dealing with the issue. “Additional changes to the current legislative framework around disclosure of counselling notes are also under consideration within my department and will be brought forward at the earliest possible opportunity,” he said.

Source: Irish Examiner December 31, 2025 00:55 UTC