35.—(1) The Department may by regulations make provision in relation to the provision of a copy of any victim statement made in respect of an offence to the defence and the court.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence by or before a court, the court must in determining the sentence in respect of the offence have regard to so much of any victim statement provided to it in accordance with regulations under subsection (1) as it considers to be relevant to that offence.