Vol. 429 No. 3
203 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that barring orders should be available to cohabitees; and his views on whether the possibility of applying for a barring order should be confined to women.
The enhancement of the rights of parties to non-marital unions was included in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997. Since the programme was published the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women has been presented to the Government. The report contains a number of recommendations relating to the position of parties to non-marital unions including recommendations relating to barring orders. I have already indicated to this House that I will be considering all of the commission's recommendations carefully with a view to deciding on those matters which should feature in a priority programme for implementation.
