Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy and I agree on that point. This is an absolute priority for the Department. A board has been established to deliver a zero-tolerance strategy and is co-chaired by the Secretary General at the Department of Justice and the Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Deputy is correct, though, about there being so much we need to do in this area. I had an incredible meeting with a superb individual, Jason Poole, yesterday concerning the horrific scenario his family has endured because of the loss of his beautiful sister Jennifer and his wish for a domestic violence register to assist in Ireland. There is much we need to do in this area. Some of it requires legislation and some of it requires resources, but we must do both and we are doing so.

Turning to the issue of the judicial planning working group, I cannot go into too much detail because I must go to Government first on it, but I do have the final report. It does highlight the importance of developing a structured system for planning and deploying judicial resources. Both the judicial planning working group and the OECD have highlighted the need for a substantial programme of change initiatives, without which the demand for additional judges would be even higher. The Deputy can expect me to move quickly on this report, which I have just received in recent weeks.

See this speech in context