Section 36, The Sexual Offences Act, 2012

(1) For the purposes of determining the sentence to beimposed on a defendant under this Act, the court shall consider any statement that may have been prepared orally or in writing of a victim of the offence describing the harm done to or loss suffered by the victim arising from the commission of the offence. (2) A statement of the victim of an offence prepared and submitted to the court in accordance with subsection (1) does not prevent the court from considering any other evidence concerning any victim of the offence for the purpose of determining the sentence to be imposed on the offender.