Prior to the commencement of s.16(1)(b), the Minister for Justice set up a Committee to draft the Good Practice Guidelines for An Garda Síochána which mirror closely the guidance available to practitioners in England and Wales i.e.Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and witnesses, and using Special Measures. (Ministry of Justice) (March 2011).

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The Committee was set up in 1999 and the Good Practice Guidelines were drafted in 2003.  These guidelines assist the court in how the interview under the section should be conducted but they have no statutory authority. They assist the Specialist Interviewer in observing fair procedures while conducting the interview so that it may be admitted at trial. The Guidelines have  not been updated but it appears that instead of using the word ' story' , the Specialist Interviewers now use the word 'account' when engaging with the witness in relation to their evidence. 

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Click on the button below to access the Good Practice Guidelines 

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