Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
850. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the work her Department has undertaken to develop policy proposals or evaluations of the effectiveness of domestic violence disclosure schemes in reducing the incidents of domestic and family violence or improving perpetrator accountability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14068/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCombatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence remains an absolute priority for this Government, for my Department and for An Garda Síochána and I am committed to strengthening our legislation and to ensuring we have the most appropriate processes and procedures in place to do this.
I am also very conscious of how harmful the consequences of this type of crime can be for victims and I am continuing to work to make sure that victims and survivors of these terrible crimes have access to the full range of supports and services they need and to ensuring that we have a criminal justice system that supports them.
Reforming our criminal justice system to make it more victim centred criminal justice system was the focus of our work to implement the recommendation of the O'Malley review as set out in Supporting A Victims Journey and now our Zero Tolerance Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), builds on the reforms already introduced.
Under our Zero Tolerance Strategy we have enacted stronger legislation to combat DSGBV, including by introducing new standalone offences for stalking and for non-fatal strangulation and by doubling the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, a very common charge in domestic violence cases.
And I am progressing legislative provisions which will -
- Strengthen the law on consent,
- Extend victim anonymity to further categories of victims,
- Repeal provisions for sentences to be delivered in public, and
- Make provision for legal representation for victims in certain cases
Central to delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory based domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency which I was delighted to formally open in February of this year.
Cuan has a mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue and it will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors.
In line with the commitment made in the third national strategy, my Department is looking at how the protective role of An Garda Síochána can be strengthened by putting in place a proactive policy whereby AGS will reach out to persons who are at serious risk in intimate relationships.
Officials in my Department are engaging with An Garda Síochána to address all of the practical and legal issues involved with a view to finalising policy proposals to present to me later this year.
