Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I merely wish to state for the record that the programme for Government includes a commitment to implement in full the Istanbul Convention and the commitments contained in the second national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I acknowledge the contributions of all Deputies. I will not have the time, as adverted to by the Acting Chairman, to deal in full with the points raised at this stage but I would be happy to do so on Committee Stage.

The Bill will improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence and help them deal with the court process. It contains a number of important amendments. I acknowledge the many agencies involved and pay a particular tribute to the Garda, in particular the domestic abuse implementation and policy group and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, GNPSB, on Harcourt Square, representatives of which I had the opportunity of meeting recently. They too look forward to this legislation. I assure the Deputies that I will very carefully and seriously examine the many points that were raised during the debate along with the submissions raised by relevant organisations. I will give due consideration to introducing appropriate amendments to the Bill, as referred to by a number of Deputies across the House, and I look forward to engaging further on Committee Stage. I commend the Bill to the House.

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