Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 22:

In page 72, after line 31, to insert the following:“Amendment of Domestic Violence Act 1996
59. The Domestic Violence Act 1996 is amended by inserting the following section after section 8:

“8A. An applicant shall not, by virtue of the applicant’s legal or beneficial interest in the residence in which the applicant resides or previously resided with the respondent, be prohibited from consideration for social housing by a local authority.”.”.

I resubmitted these two amendments because I am of the view that it is only right to ensure we obtain a reaffirmation from the Minister of State of the commitment provided on Committee Stage by his predecessor, the new Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the effect that she intended to enter into consultations with the Minister for Justice and Equality on what can be done about domestic violence. I will not go into too much detail because the issue in question has been discussed by most Members of the Seanad on several previous occasions, including Committee Stage. I accept the fact that this matter is also relevant to the Department of Justice and Equality and other Departments and that, as a result, a cross-departmental approach is required in respect of it. However, amendments Nos. 22 and 23 deal exclusively with housing issues and the ability of survivors of domestic abuse to access housing. Amendment No. 23 is extremely simple in nature and requires that the Minister, with the consent of the relevant Oireachtas committee, publish a framework for housing authorities to deal with domestic abuse in social housing. Perhaps the Minister of State could provide a commitment that work on such a framework could be commenced in conjunction with groups such as SAFE Ireland and Women's Aid.