Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I think out-of-hours calls are rare because they do not happen and there is nobody at the other end of the phone to take a call. Time is of the essence when somebody is seeking an emergency barring order. Even waiting until the next morning or until Monday is unacceptable. Even in the most extreme cases where it could cost lives, if this is the first time that a woman reaches out for help and it is 2 a.m, 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., when she has never done so before, it only takes a day or two of waiting for court proceedings for a person to manipulate and coerce that woman away from what she would have done in that moment at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. when her life was at threat. Even waiting for the next day or for a judge to decide whether there should be an extra sitting is not good enough or strong enough. This amendment provides that a garda of appropriate rank may authorise the calling of an on-call judge. It is about that communication and not having to wait to make that application or for a court proceeding. Emergencies have to be addressed when they happen and not two days later. It cannot ever be put on hold. The section of the Bill to which the Minister of State refers does not cover emergency out-of-hours barring orders. The crucial part of this is the out-of-hours provision.