Vol. 513 No. 1
644 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will bring forward legislation to amend the Domestic Violence Act, 1996, to extend its scope including a person with a child in common as recommended by the task force on violence against women also referred to in the report of the National Steering Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1044/00]
The Deputy will be aware that the law on barring orders was the subject of a comprehensive review which led to enactment of the Domestic Violence Act, 1996.
Various issues concerning the protection of persons from violence in the home continue to be reviewed by my Department. The Government has already established the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women which is chaired by Deputy Mary Wallace, Minister of State in my Department and includes representatives from the key Government Departments, the Garda Síochána and non-Governmental organisations. As part of the process of review the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 are being examined in the light of experience gained in the first few years of its operation.
The Law Society through its Law Reform Committee and Women's Aid have suggested certain changes to the Act. These include an extension in the categories of person who are entitled to apply for a barring order to persons with a child in common who have never lived together and the issue is one which has been identified to me by the National Steering Committee. Where changes are found to be feasible and warranted I shall include them in the context of the proposed Family Law Bill which is referred to in the Government's legislation programme. The programme, as announced by the Government Chief Whip on 25 January, 2000, indicates that the heads of proposals for the Bill are in the course of being prepared in my Department.
