Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

These amendments deal primarily with the issue of domestic violence. I will deal with the amendments one by one. I cannot agree to amendments Nos. 13 and 14. The section in the Bill is in line with the EU qualifications directive and the list contained in section 7 of the Bill is not an exhaustive or limited one. I cannot agree to amendment No. 128 which relates to permission given to family members of qualified persons. The category of person referred to in the proposed amendments has other remedies available to him or her, either by changing the residency permission or under the Immigration Act 1999. Amendment No. 131 relates to permissions given to family members of qualified persons. Again, the category of person referred to in the proposed amendments has other remedies available to him or her, either by changing the residency permission or under the Immigration Act 1999. I, therefore, cannot agree to the amendment. The same issue and reasons apply in terms of amendment No. 132 as apply to amendment No. 131. Similar answers apply to amendments Nos. 143 and 144. I cannot agree to amendment No. 147. The list contained in the section is not exhaustive. Other forms of violence or abuse will be taken into account when dealing with international protection applications from vulnerable persons. Section 7(2)(a) defines acts which may amount to acts of persecution as including "acts of physical or mental violence, including acts of sexual violence". These can be used to establish an entitlement to protection need.

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