Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Government's amendments in this group, which strengthen the language around safety orders. Let us remind ourselves what safety orders are. A safety order is a court order prohibiting a violent person from doing one or more of the following: using or threatening to use violence, molesting or frightening the applicant or a dependent person and watching or besetting a place where the applicant or a dependent person resides. The strengthening of the language from "may" to "shall" is entirely welcome.

I disagree with the Minister of State on amendment No. 36. This amendment encompasses arguments made in amendments Nos. 31 and 41 regarding the hierarchy of court orders and conduct of proceedings. It stops the court from accepting undertakings in cases where violence is being used, where there is a risk of violence and where court orders have been broken in the past. I support my colleagues across the House on amendment No. 36 but I will not support calls to withdraw amendments Nos. 31 and 41.