Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleague Senator Brennan in complimenting and congratulating Senator Mulcahy’s honesty in highlighting a major issue in our society, namely domestic violence, at the justice committee yesterday. It took much courage but, knowing him for a long time, he is a straight talker and always calls it as it is. He has done the State some service with his contribution yesterday. I did not know, until l had a discussion with Senator Mulcahy last night, that it is not a crime to commit an act of domestic violence. I thought violence of any nature was always a crime.

This is a real shortcoming in our legislation that this type of behaviour can go unpunished if it is regarded as a domestic incident. We need to empower the Garda to be able to act as witnesses in these situations. We need, as Senator Mulcahy said, to remove the perpetrator from the family home. I look forward to legislation to this effect being brought forward by the Government as a matter of urgency. All colleagues will contribute to ensure a speedy passage of such legislation.

The allegations contained in this morning’s newspapers and passed on to the Taoiseach by the leader of Fianna Fáil are very worrying. I hope we get to the truth of this. There is no person better than the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, to get to the truth quickly and to seek total openness and transparency. We all need to express confidence in the justice system and get to the bottom of any wrongdoing.