Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question is pretty straightforward. It asks what are the proposals for bringing forward domestic violence legislation this year. I will speak on behalf of the many thousands of victims and victims-to-be who are out there and looking for a permanent solution in this area.

A number of things have happened in the past number of months. The report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality should be implemented in its entirety. The report of the Garda Inspectorate showed serious deficiencies both in the recording of crimes and the actual reading two hours later.

The DASH system in the North of Ireland records all crimes of sexual or domestic violence. I have recently sent a copy to the Minister and to the new Garda Commissioner, Ms Noirín O'Sullivan. I do not believe that using a black notebook, like we used to do in the old days, or putting the details up on the PULSE system is the way to do business in this area. We have a terrible habit in Ireland of trying to reinvent something. I have a cousin who works for the PSNI and who told me they have already got this system in the North of Ireland. I believe it is what we need to implement here.

The implementation of the EU victims' directive must happen this year.The ratification of the Istanbul Convention on domestic violence must be done this year, but above all, proper legislation must be put in place. Friends of mine in the Garda pointed me to the 2002 children's welfare Act and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. They outlined that the animal welfare legislation provides for penalties, including powers of detention, imprisonment and fines. If I give a dog a kick up the backside I can be detained for seven days with a fine of up to €250,000, but there is little or no provision to protect someone over the age of 18, either male or female. We already have the powers in the Acts. I plead with the Minister to ensure that we introduce the legislation this year.