Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Domestic Violence.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

364 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is reviewing the Domestic Violence Act, 1996; the timetable for this review; the number of cases taken per year since it's inception; the category of such cases; the outcome of such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17899/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The law on domestic violence has been the subject of a comprehensive review which took into account detailed consultations on the legal and constitutional issues involved. That review led to the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 which updated and re-enacted, with substantial amendments, the legislation of 1981. Operation of the law in this area is being closely monitored by my Department in consultation with, among others, the national steering committee on violence against women. Where changes in the law are found to be feasible and warranted I shall include them in the proposed family law Bill, which is in the Government's legislation programme.

The following is the most up to date information sought on applications to the District Court under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 as supplied by District Court offices.

District Court

Application	Number of applications dealt with			Number of orders granted
	1997	1998	1997	1998
Protection Order	4,352	4,409	3,781	3,474*
Safety Order	1,792	1,779	739	837
Interim BarringOrder	589	733	543	677
Barring Order	5,217	4,792	2,145	2,004
Overall Total	11,950	11,713	7,208	6,992

*In 1998, 755 Interim Barring Orders were granted in lieu of protection orders

Annual figures are in respect of legal year ending 31 July.

Information on orders made by the Circuit Court under the Domestic Violence Act is not available for years prior to that ending 31 July 1999. In the latter year, returns from approximately three quarters of Circuit Court offices show that 108 such orders were made.