Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I am very concerned about the direction the debate is going. The reason I am concerned is that each and every one of these amendments has been informed by what survivors of domestic violence and abuse are saying they need to protect them and to ensure their safety. It seems that we are saying that is too complex to be done. I am really concerned about the timeline on when this will be implemented. I am concerned that we will pick it to pieces so much in trying to get a perfect Bill. The survivors of domestic violence are not saying they need a perfect Bill, but they are saying they need a Bill to protect them. We need to listen to them, and the Attorney General needs to listen to them.

I am concerned when the Minister states that the Judiciary has discretion because my experience, and the experience of many women with whom I work, is that some absolutely appalling decisions are made by some members of our Judiciary. If training is being provided at present, that training is not effective. It is not teaching the Judiciary the dynamics of domestic violence. The complexity is in the dynamics, in the behaviour of the perpetrator and the power and control he or she exerts on his or her victim. I hate using the word "victim". We need to listen to the survivors of domestic violence. It is written all over these amendments. There are others who are not here because they have lost their lives through domestic violence. We need to speak for those people as well.