Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)

I welcome everyone in the Visitors Gallery and say to them that their voice matters. I strongly welcome this motion and opportunity to speak on this critical issue. I thank my colleagues Deputy Matt Carthy and Senator Maria McCormack for all the work they have done on this Bill. The Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill 2025 is a small but profoundly important step. Across Carlow and Kilkenny, organisations providing a lifeline to victims are being stretched to their limits. As calls for help rise, the system is failing those it is meant to protect. The journey to seek justice is itself a form of retraumatisation. Victims face years of long waits for a court date. They are then confronted with the appalling practice of their private counselling notes being disclosed and even shared with their perpetrator. Many victims state that this is why they avoid seeking counselling at all. Let me be clear: this Irish justice system is failing women. After the traumatic court process, the sentences handed down are shamefully lenient. We consistently see violent, horrific crimes met with light sentence for the flimsiest of reasons. I recently watched a summary of sexual assault cases over a single week compiled by Aoife Dunne. It was chilling in its sheer volume. I send my solidarity to Aoife after enduring a horrific backlash for simply shining a light on the sheer volume of these horrible crimes. This underscores the need for this Bill. Victims live in constant anxiety about their attacker's release. While other legal avenues may exist, they are not the right fit. Victims must not be forced back into court to fight again for basic safety. This Bill is about providing that sense of safety proactively. By allowing a restraining order at the point of conviction we give survivors the security to rebuild their lives. There is no justifiable reason to deny it to victims of sexual violence. We must do more than process victims through a broken system. I urge the Minister to support this Bill and ensure our justice system delivers true justice.

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