Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the witnesses. They probably think I am a jack-in-the-box jumping up and down but I am attending the committee next door and my speaking slot came up. Bilocation is a key skill for a Member.

I have a few questions. Like Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I have engaged with people who have come to my clinic, in addition to the family members of those who have been involved in these situations. Will the representatives reiterate or confirm some of the issues that have been reported to me? When victims report an issue in the system, it can often just be a result of their individual experiences, but I have seen a pattern building up, especially regarding the issue of the protection order and the seven or eight days it covers. The feeling is it is issued for too short a period when it is very clear the threat will be there for much longer.

The second issue raised with me is the renewal of barring orders, when the new safe location often has to be disclosed. Some of the people involved felt that put them in an even more vulnerable position. The other issue is around the garda dealing with the overall case being the one to pursue the breach of the barring order. Have the representatives experience of that? Again, that does not seem to make sense. It might seem like a short distance to many people, but the service for a barring order is available in Dublin city centre. If the victim is in Finglas or Ballymun in my constituency, and is so controlled that every aspect of his or her life is being monitored or watched, where does such an individual get the five-hour window to get into town to apply for the barring order, get back home and then justify where he or she has been for that period? Have the representatives discussed other options as to where a barring order might be sought? Is it possible that local Garda stations might be a place where that could happen? Has any consideration been given to the idea of Garda superintendents proactively seeking a barring order on behalf of a victim? There might be an understanding that previous incidents have happened. We do not want the State stepping into people's lives, but where might the Garda be more proactive in seeking a barring order on behalf of a victim who possibly does not want to pursue it because that person is so controlled and so limited?

The other area is the idea of a domestic violence register. This has been implemented in the UK. It is the idea that somebody in a domestic violence situation might have an inkling that something is happening and that his or her partner is becoming more and more controlling. If that person was aware that this happened in a previous relationship involving that partner, he or she would either be more aware or more proactive at an early stage. How can we do that with all the controls around the general data protection regulation, GDPR, and people's right, despite committing a crime, to be able to move on and put that behind them? Has a domestic violence register been discussed?

I appreciate I am throwing a lot at the representatives. My last question concerns the area of education, especially for young men in schools, in addition to youth clubs and other places. From speaking to Ms Blackwell, I know her organisation has done quite a lot of work in schools with younger people, as I am sure other organisations have. What recommendations does she have for the Government? The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is looking at this area. What are the recommendations on where the best place is to engage young people on the issue of violence? Often, other young men are just as much victims of toxicity, especially if any sort of difference is exploited. How do we tackle the toxic culture that often exists in GAA clubs, schools or youth groups? I ask whoever would like to address any of those points to do so.