Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about the Domestic Violence Bill 2017, the purpose of which is to consolidate and update the Domestic Violence Bill 1996 and the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2002 in a new comprehensive Bill. As the Minister may be aware, Siobhán Phillips, a young woman who was grievously wounded in the same shooting in which Garda Tony Golden was killed, was the victim of sustained domestic violence. Two days before she and Garda Golden were shot she went to Dundalk Garda station where, despite obvious injuries, she was unable to make a statement as there was no private location in the station for her to speak to gardaí about her injuries. The objectives of the Domestic Violence Bill are, among others, to make it easier for victims to avail of the courts system and to link them with support services, but there is clearly a need for Garda protocols and facilities based on best international practice to allow victims of violence or abuse to have their complaints dealt with in a fitting, therapeutic and appropriate manner. When does the Minister expect the Bill to complete its legislative journey and be enacted?

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