Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I will be brief and the reason I will be brief is this Bill gives us the instruments we need to prosecute the crime of domestic violence. I will not take up all my time talking about it because we have spoken about it on other Stages. Those of us who have worked with victims and survivors of domestic violence for a number of years know exactly what needs to be done, and this is what needs to be done.The Minister said it was too complex, but I do not accept that. The complexity arises where a child is robbed of his or her childhood or where a woman and children are in fear of their lives. That is the reality, so there is an urgency with this Bill. It is about power and control and the physical, psychological and financial abuse that takes place to control people's lives. We need a definition and it is provided here. Sinn Féin supports all of these amendments. Let us get the Bill on to the next Stage, so we can protect the lives of women, children and others who are experiencing domestic violence in this country.