Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I add my voice to Senator Alex White's tribute to the very distinguished public servant who died this week, Mr. Paddy MacKernan. He was a former Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs and I knew him personally. He was a remarkable man, warm and generous, with a distinguished public service career serving as a diplomat in many Irish embassies and as Secretary General. I note his passing and extend my sympathies to his wife Caitríona and his family.

I seek a debate on the report of the Garda Inspectorate and the concerns arising from the commentary on it. Senator Hannigan has also asked for this debate. Yesterday at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights we examined the important issue of self-defence for householders in the context of burglary. We are preparing position papers on this. It was interesting to note that both the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Irish Rural Link, who made presentations to the committee yesterday, agreed legislation is only part of the way we should deal with isolated householders concerned about the limits of their protection in law. We should also examine policing. In the context of a proposal for a reduction in the 24-hour cover at Garda stations, this is of great concern. It is interesting that groups seen as coming from very different places are in agreement that increased policing cover is crucial.

I also seek a debate on domestic violence, taking up Senator MacDonald's point. The Civil Partnership Bill, although welcome in many respects, will make the position worse for cohabitees through its amendments to the Domestic Violence Act. It may lessen the protection for cohabitants at risk of violence, for example, by requiring that they prove they have been cohabiting immediately before the application for the safety order. There is also a serious omission in the legislation in that it does not cover a couple with a child in common but who are not cohabiting. Women's Aid has been doing great work on this but we could have a useful debate in this House on domestic violence and legal protections particularly because the Civil Partnership Bill will be before the House shortly.