The Joint Committee on Justice will meet for Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the general scheme of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency Bill

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House at 3pm. 

The Committee will hear from representatives from:

The National Women’s Council of Ireland

Men’s Development Network

Trans Equality Network Ireland

AkiDwa

Safe Ireland

Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI)

Department of Justice

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy James Lawless TD said “the Committee meets tomorrow for scrutiny on the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency Bill which was approved by Ministers last month. This Bill will see the creation of a new statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).

A key responsibility of the new agency will be overseeing and supporting the provision of refuge accommodation for victims, supporting the Government’s commitment to double the number of refuge places and increase the number of safe homes and other accommodation by 2026.The establishment of the agency is also to ensure that there is permanent structure to help deliver further refuge accommodation over the long term.

The diversity of the stakeholders attending this meeting demonstrates how this impacts across society and our Committee looks forward to hearing from all involved.”

The meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Read more on the work done by the Justice Committee

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.