National Women’s Council of Ireland welcomes new Bill on Domestic Violence

Published: Friday, July 24, 2015

Press Release, 24th July 2015

In response to the publication of the Heads of the new Bill on Domestic Violence by Minister Frances Fitzgerald today the National Women’s Council of Ireland welcomes the new measures to be introduced to protect women from domestic violence.

Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) said

'1 in 5 women in Ireland experience domestic violence and the new measures announced today will provide more protection for women in Domestic Violence situations. Particularly we welcome the enhanced protection of and support for victims when they are going to court, the removal of the barrier of property ownership when applying for interim barring orders and the recognition of the new reality of online abuse.The Bill provides that a victim would be able to apply for an order to prevent the perpetrator from following or communicating with the victim, including by electronic means, other than for communications specifically specified by the court.'

She added

'However there are gaps in the Bill that NWCI and our members have called for in order to provide further protection for victims, particularly in relation to younger women, emergency barring orders and the establishment of stalking as a criminal offence. It is our intention to work with all the political parties to ensure that the final legislation is enhanced and provides victims with the strongest possible protections'

Critical to the success of the Bill will be the resources allocated to both frontline services and an Garda Siochana to ensure it's effective implementation and NWCI Is calling on the Government to prioritise funding for violence against women in Budget 2016.

'In addition we welcome the statement by Minister a Frances Fitzgerald The Council of Europe Convention on Violence Against Women (Istanbul Convention) will be signed and ratified in the autumn, the Convention is widely acknowledged as the blueprint for best practice in relation to tackling domestic and sexual violence. It has now been signed by 38 countries and ratified by 18. Ireland has continued to take an unacceptable lengthy time  to sign and ratify the Convention.'

She concluded,

We are years away from understanding and addressing effectively the serious impact domestic violence has on the lives of women and in many instances, their children. This Bill is moving in the right direction by providing more protection to victims.

Ends/

For more information, please contact Orla O’Connor, NWCI Director, Tel. 0873388104.