RCI continues to call for a presumption of non-disclosure of counselling notes

Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI), reflecting on the Dáil 1st stage debate on 9th January 2026 of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, reiterates our call for a presumption of non-disclosure of counselling notes in rape and sexual violence trials, and welcomes the Minister for Justice’s indication that this is an amendment he is likely to bring forward.  

However, we are seeking reassurance that the Minister will commit to setting the highest standard to be applied by the court – the standard of ‘a real risk of an unfair trial’ – when considering disclosure. RCI also cautions that the benefit of this legislation will only be fully realised with sufficient transparency and capacity in place so that standards will be consistently and rapidly applied, which will in turn impact practice and culture within the justice system.  

These measures would significantly limit the unnecessary intrusion into survivors’ privacy while maintaining the integrity of the justice process while we await a process which will  address the question of the balancing of rights between complainant and accused.  

Amendments we are calling for include: 

1. a presumption of non-disclosure of counselling notes in rape and sexual violence cases 

1. the highest standard to be set when considering disclosure i.e. ‘a real risk of an unfair trial’ 

1. transparency and capacity to ensure the standards being set are consistently applied and the public can be informed of same 

1. the expansion of protection to other personal data, including medical records and child protection records 

RCI acknowledges that the fundamental injustice this Bill seeks to address cannot be fully overcome in this legislation. Therefore, in addition we are calling for a Commission on Justice to be convened. This Commission would look at:  

• the status of the victim in the Criminal Justice System  

• more broadly, what justice means for survivors, and  

• the practices and norms of the balance of rights between the victim and the accused under our Constitution and human rights’ obligations.  

Without this fundamental examination, RCI is clear that this, and indeed other harms and injustices, cannot be fully addressed.  

We remain concerned that both the amendments proposed by the Government and any interim measures do not address the impact the disclosure of counselling notes has on the counselling relationship and the deterrent effect it has on survivors accessing support services. This is why we are urging transparency in the conduct of 19A pre-trials. Not only should the Judgements inform practice across the courts, but transparency is also fundamental to survivors’ rights. Survivors must be provided with the information they need to inform their decision-making at every stage of their journey. 

We will continue to advocate for the complete protection or privileged status of counselling notes and other material in cases of sexual violence. Survivors deserve the assurance that their deeply personal information will be safeguarded and not used in ways that compromise their privacy or care. We firmly believe this protection is fundamental to supporting survivors and upholding their dignity throughout the justice process. 

You can read our full Briefing on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 at this link.