At present, victims have to meet their attackers face to face and pick them out by number or by pointing at them.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe has said the practice is "crazy" and that it adds to people's trauma and can result in them not reporting crimes. He has tabled a motion amending the current criminal justice bill to introduce twoway mirrors so identifications can be made with the suspect in another room.

Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop, chief executive of the Rape Crisis Centre, says the association has been in talks with gardai about two-way mirrors.

"We would be in favour of a two-way mirror system because victims should not have to go through the added trauma of facing an assailant.

It would make it so much easier for complainants. Anything that makes it easier on victims we would support."

She said it was difficult enough to get rape victims to come forward without added deterrents. The centre wants to see mirrors in at least one garda station in every region.

Justice minister Michael McDowell says he is reviewing ID parades to see if they can be made less traumatic for victims. Suspects do not have to take part in identity parades and no inference of guilt is drawn from their refusal. They can also put their hoods up if they so chose and the rest of the line-up has to do the same.

Gardai believe mirrors would help them investigate crime.