Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. I welcome this amendment and confirm that Fianna Fáil will be supporting Senator Bacik on it.

I would also like to take this opportunity to briefly mention the issue of the legal aid available to victims of domestic violence. There is currently a minimal contribution of €130 for legal aid so I would like the Minister of State to give a commitment that anyone making an application for one of these orders be given a waiver across the board. Where the issue of coercive control arises, victims of domestic abuse do not have access to money and would find €130 very difficult to come by. This is the minimum contribution - it sometimes amounts to more - and this money is very hard to come by for anyone in an abusive situation.

Legal representation is a priority for people like this who are particularly vulnerable. Rather than mention this matter at a later stage, I would like to mention it here. As I said, we will be supporting Senator Bacik on this amendment.