McDowell proposes time limit on barring orders

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has proposed legislation to put an eight-day time limit on barring orders granted to people without the knowledge of their partners.

The legislation follows a Supreme Court ruling which declared that ex-parte barring orders were unconstitutional because they did not have any time limits.

The court ruled that people affected by these orders were denied the opportunity to give their side of their story and, therefore, were denied natural justice.

Under Minister MacDowell's proposed Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill, ex-parte barring orders would expire after eight days unless a court orders their continuation after hearing both sides of the case.