Senators support bill to broaden protections for domestic violence victims

LOCAL SENATORS Patricia Stephenson and Malcolm Noonan are both in support of a bill brought forward by the Cross-Party Group in the Seanad aimed at strengthening legal protections for survivors of domestic violence.

The bill, which was brought forward during the Cross-Party Group’s Private Members’ Business time, proposes to create a new indictable offence for breaches of domestic violence orders under section 33 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2018. The proposed legislation will allow prosecutors to pursue indictable offences where breaches of court orders are serious, persistent or violent in nature and will empower the justice system to respond more effectively to patterns of coercive control.

Senator Stephenson said: “This bill sends a clear message that breaching a domestic violence order is not a minor technicality. It is a serious offence that puts women and children in fear for their lives. When there is no real threat of consequence, survivors are left living in constant fear – afraid to answer the door, look at their phone or step outside alone.” 

 She continued: “These aren’t minor incidents. They are part of a pattern of coercive control that retraumatises survivors and erodes their autonomy. It is vital our legal system treats them as such. This legislation is one important step, but it must be part of a broader, multi-pronged approach towards achieving zero tolerance of gender-based violence in Irish society.” 

Senator Noonan said: “Domestic and gender-based violence is, unfortunately, on the rise in Ireland. The majority of women who have died violently in recent years were killed by someone they knew, a partner or former partner. If we are to have a zero-tolerance approach to domestic and gender-based violence, we must, as a starting point, strengthen laws to protect women and children. That’s what this short bill is about.” 

He continued: “I welcome government support to allow an opposition bill to progress past committee stage. I think that it’s important now for the Seanad to create space to allow this important legislation to go to report and final stage before summer recess. We must continue to show that we as legislators will not tolerate domestic and gender-based violence and are determined to eliminate it.”