Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I share the Deputy's concern on the issue of domestic violence. This is an issue about which the Government is seriously concerned and that is why the programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation. While that legislation is being prepared, as the Deputy has already been informed, the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 has been widened to include protections provided in the Domestic Violence Act 1996. A minimum period of cohabitation is no longer required before one of a cohabiting couple may apply for a safety order. Previously the applicant was required to have resided with the respondent for at least six of the previous 12 months. Same-sex couples now have the same access to the protection of the Domestic Violence Act as opposite-sex couples. The scope of section 2 of that Act, which specified who may apply for a safety order, has been broadened to enable a person to obtain a safety order against a person with whom he or she has a child in common.

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