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Domestic Violence Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Questions (537)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

537. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department will be introducing further reforms in the domestic violence legal framework; and the level of funding provided to Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence in 2013 and 2014. [36250/13]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims. Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is currently considering a wide range of proposals including proposals for reform from voluntary sector organisations. I look forward to receiving and examining a package of workable and effective proposals for the legislation. The development of the consolidated and reformed legislation will be progressed as soon as possible having regard to the need for these on-going consultations and other legislative priorities in my Department.

In advance of this wider reform, I have introduced reforms to domestic violence legislation by means of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011. That Act removed the minimum required period of cohabitation before one of a cohabiting couple may apply for a safety order (previously, the applicant was required to have resided with the respondent for at least six of the previous twelve months) and gave equal access to the protections of the Domestic Violence Act to opposite-sex and same-sex couples (the relevant provision previously referred only to couples “living together as husband and wife”). The 2011 Act also widened the scope of section 2 of the 1996 Act, which specifies who may apply for a safety order, to enable a person to obtain a safety order against a person with whom they have a child in common. This is the only exception to the general rule that the protections available under the Domestic Violence Acts are for the benefit of persons who have lived together in the same household.

Finally, I am happy to state that I have been able to retain Cosc's sub-head at almost the same level in 2013 as in 2012 - €2.029m as opposed to €2.091m. The Deputy will be aware that the Estimates process for 2014 is still ongoing. I would also like to state that funding for front-line community and voluntary domestic violence services is provided at present by the Health Service Executive for whom the Minister for Health has responsibility. I understand that responsibility for funding these services will transfer to the Child and Family Support Agency, when established, and that agency will come under the remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

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