George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)

I welcome all the people in the Public Gallery and thank them for all they have done in campaigning for victims of sexual violence and change.

I am pleased to speak in strong support of this Bill and thank Sinn Féin for bringing it forward to the floor of the House. My colleagues in the Labour Party will also be supporting it. This legislation is not just a legal reform; it is a lifeline for survivors. It is about ensuring justice does not end at conviction but continues to protect those who have endured unimaginable harm.

Sexual violence is one of the most devastating crimes in our society. It is not only an assault on the body; it is an assault on dignity, trust and the very sense of safety every person deserves. The scale of this problem in Ireland is staggering. Some 40% of adults have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. For women, that figure is a staggering 52% and for men, it is 28%, while 26% of adults have experienced sexual violence as adults. Most harrowing of all is that 18% of women and 3% of men report non-consensual sexual intercourse as adults. These are not just numbers; they represent lives, shattered lives, futures altered and trust broken. Yet, despite this prevalence, reporting remains low and delayed. One in five survivors waits more than ten years to disclose abuse. Nearly half of those abused as children under 13 take more than a decade to report to gardaí.

Even when cases are reported, justice is far from guaranteed. In 2024, only 8% of sexual offences reported to gardaí were detected. Meanwhile, demand for support services is surging. Rape crisis centres recorded 13,098 helpline contacts and 14,778 counselling appointments last year. That is a 48% increase. These figures tell us one thing clearly, namely, that survivors need more than words. They need action and protection that lasts beyond the courtroom.

This Bill introduces civil protection orders for victims of serious sexual offences. These orders will prohibit contact and proximity. Offenders will be barred from contacting victims or approaching their homes, workplaces or schools and breaches are made a criminal offence. That is vital. Violating these orders will carry penalties, including fines and imprisonment. It is time to treat breaches also as aggregating factors. Repeat violations will weigh heavily in sentencing.

Imagine a young woman trying to return to college after a trial - as a father of three daughters, I would find this harrowing so I can only imagine how a victim would feel - or woman walking her child to school or a man rebuilding his life, always wondering if the person who violated them might appear on the street alongside them or around the next corner. This is the reality for many survivors today. Without civil protection, justice ends at sentencing but the fear continues. This Bill gives survivors a legal shield, a sense of safety and the freedom to move forward. These orders are issued only after conviction for serious sexual offences. They are time-bound and subject to judicial oversight. The rights of the offenders are of course respected, but they do not and must not override the right of victims to live without fear.

This Bill builds on decades of progress, from the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, but none of these measures provided a comprehensive civil remedy for victims post-conviction. Tonight is an effort to change that. Internationally, similar laws have proven effective. They reduce harassment, increase victim confidence and demonstrate justice systems can be survivor-centred. Ireland should be no different. These statistics demand urgency. As a proud member of the voluntary board of Wexford Women's Refuge and as someone who works closely with Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, I can tell the House that the number of people availing of these services is staggering. Both services are beyond capacity, with amazing staff put to the pin of their collars to work and deal with the victims. This is despite both services moving into fabulous new-build facilities over the past few years. In that move, Wexford Women's Refuge tripled its capacity and already needs more beds to service the demand in the Wexford area. The Rape Crisis Centre is itself in crisis, trying to meet the demands on its services, with one new case coming into their services every day in Wexford alone. The need is beyond great.

Passing this Bill is not just a legislative act; it is a moral imperative. It says to the survivors, "We hear you, we believe you and we will protect you." This Bill is more than law. It is about humanity and ensuring justice does not end at the courtroom door. It is about giving survivors the peace they deserve and reaffirming our commitment to a society in which violence is met with accountability and compassion. It is essential that all of us in this House support this Bill and that we stand together for justice, safety and the dignity of every person who has suffered the unimaginable. Passing this legislation will not erase the pain of the past but it will help build a future where victims are protected, perpetrators are held accountable and our communities are stronger and safer.

We should lead from the front on this, as public representatives and as parties. We should have a zero tolerance - as public representatives of parties - for perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual violence and all violence against any gender. When filling in my ethics form at the end of the year or my returns, I have to put down if I have an acre of land or a house, but if I have a barring order, protection order or safety order against me, I do not have to mention it. It is ludicrous to think that in the context of ethics, we are not leading from the front. I urge the Minister to consider this also in the context of this legislation.

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