Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has firmly rejected criticisms of the process used by the Government to appoint Revenue boss Josephine Feehily as the chairwoman of the new Policing Authority.

Just over half of families of homicide victims and victims of rape and sexual assault say they were not informed by gardaí of support services, according to a new survey.

Free bereavement counselling must be offered to victims of crime who suffer traumatic events, support groups have said.

The victims of crime are to be given special rights under Irish law.

The Justice Minister is launching of the newly formed Victims Rights Alliance in Dublin this afternoon.