Proposed new domestic violence laws aim to 'protect and support victims'
Proposed new laws aimed at giving "fresh hope" to victims of domestic violence have been published today.
Minister Frances Fitzgerald's new Domestic Violence Bill puts forward a wide range of measures aimed at helping victims of domestic violence.
Several of them relate to making the courts process easier for a complainant.
They would have the right to be accompanied to court by family or friend, and give evidence by video link to reduce risk of intimidation.
Their anonymity would also be protected unless they choose to be identified.
The new law would also allow for a domestic violence offender to be barred from communicating electronically with their victim.
The Justice Minister said that the general scheme of the Bill has been approved by the Government, and she hopes it will give fresh hope to victims of domestic violence.
"Domestic violence persists as true horror in too many homes in 21st Century Ireland," she said.
"In addition, too many incidents of domestic violence still go unreported. Too many victims are afraid to come forward.
"I hope my new Domestic Violence Bill will help in tackling this horror head-on and giving fresh hope to victims that they are not alone.
"Protecting and supporting victims has been a key priority for me as Minister for Justice. This new legislation to protect and support victims of domestic violence builds on the broader Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill, which I announced last week.
"This new Bill will particularly improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence, most critically for those victims in crisis situations, making it much easier for them to obtain interim barring orders.
"The Bill will remove the requirement that a person must have at least an equal interest in a property to apply for an interim barring order (for eight working days) in an emergency or crisis situation."
"This new Bill will also make the courts process easier for victims of domestic violence.
"The reforms proposed will help a victim through the court process. A victim will have the right to be accompanied to court by a family member or friend. A victim or a witness will be able to give evidence by televisual link so as to reduce the risk of intimidation.
"There will be limits on those entitled to attend the court proceedings so as to make it easier for a victim to give evidence and so as to reduce the risk of intimidation.
" The victim’s anonymity will be protected except where the victim chooses otherwise.”
Minister Fitzgerald added that the enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill will also represent a major step forward on the road to Ireland’s ratification of the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (more commonly known as the Istanbul Convention).
The Minister intends to seek Government approval for Ireland to sign the Istanbul Convention in the Autumn.
The Minister concluded: “It is in the interests of victims that we get this legislation drafted and enacted as soon as possible.”
