Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very difficult to answer both in 30 seconds. It is a fairly complex lacuna that Deputy Kenny was outlining. I will certainly pursue the issue between the two Departments and talk to both Ministers in respect of the legislative requirement. There is an issue that needs to be developed and explored to see if we can do this in a proper, regulated way.

With regard to Deputy Farrell’s point, this is a key issue for the Government and for the Ministers involved, in particular the Minister for Justice, in respect not just of the implementation of the strategy but a whole range of parallel measures that we have to introduce to deal with gender-based violence and domestic violence. There is a comprehensive agenda ahead of Government and that was reflected in the increased resources in the recent budget.

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