Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I will sum up because I want to share some of my time with Deputy Ring. I support the introduction of this Bill to the House and I am pleased that the Government has finally done so. However, there are improvements to be made to it, especially in the definition of reasonableness and in some other matters, in particular the distinction between an assault perpetrated against a homeowner in his or her home and the ordinary criminal offence of assault and the type of sentencing that is handed down. We have to distinguish between those. This is an important Bill, particularly for older people and people living in isolated regions. I thank the Acting Chairman for having had this opportunity to speak on the Bill.

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