Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
368. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe to introduce legislation to place the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62436/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra369. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe in which he expects to receive a report of the Law Reform Commission regarding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; the timeframe for when it will be published; the format and timeframe of arising stakeholder consultation in relation to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62437/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 9 October 2025, the timeframe for when he expects to hear the considerations of the High Court following on from the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 2 October 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62438/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 9 October 2025, and the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 2 October 2025, if individuals will now be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal for pain and suffering; the basis upon which access to such will be i.e. the 2004 EU directive coming into force; the date the preceding case was taken in the Irish Court; the date of the judgement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62439/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369, 370 and 371 together.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme continues to play an important and significant role in providing practical support by way of monetary compensation to victims of violent crime.
The Government is committed to reforming the Scheme, including placing it on a statutory footing as provided for in the Programme for Government, and work is currently being advanced in relation to this.
In 2021, the then Government agreed to introduce a revised Scheme and a number of immediate reforms were introduced. This was acknowledged as a first step toward improving the operation of the Scheme.
Following this, an inter-departmental working group was established, which is chaired by my Department, to examine matters pertaining to further reform of the Scheme including placing it on a statutory footing.
While this work is continuing, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) is also examining the broader topic of victim compensation as part of its Fifth Programme of Law Reform. The LRC is expected to report shortly.
My Department is considering the implications of the recent CJEU judgment in relation to the Scheme and I expect to be in a position to bring forward amendments to the Scheme in due course.
