Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The fact that a victim of domestic violence must leave their home raises the need to have a sanction. Let us assume that the victim of the violence in the home takes the case to court and the perpetrator is prosecuted successfully. What is the victim's status in terms of agreement with the local authority? The balance should move in favour of the victim. I mean by this that the victim should be allowed to return to the family home and the perpetrator should be moved out. Does an area exist for such provision under the Minister of State's mandate in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government? I am referring here to an agreement between the tenant and the local authority which comes directly under the remit of her housing section. Can we debate legislation that would address this issue? I refer to cases where a prosecution has taken place and been successful. Please correct me if I am wrong, but as things stand the tenant can stay in situand the victim is left out in the cold and out of their house.