In bringing the Bill before the House I am conscious that we must look at these proposals in the context of the legislation on domestic violence as a whole, that is, the Domestic Violence Act, 1996. That Act was ground-breaking legislation, which built on existing remedies for the victims of violence in the home. The barring order remedy dates from 1976, when it was provided for in the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act. The Family Law (Protection of Spouses and Children) Act, 1981, strengthened the law on barring orders. The main changes made were the extension of the District Court's time limit from three to 12 months, the granting of a statutory power of arrest without warrant to the Garda for breaches of orders and the creation of the remedy of a protection order. The 1996 Act repealed and re-enacted, with substantial amendments, the provisions of the preceding legislation.