Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has referenced the index. I support an index. As he is receptive to that, I invite him to take on board these legitimate and supportive comments.

With regard to the review, I 100% support what Senator Ruane is saying but I am opposed to the amendment. No matter how broad and thorough it is, it may inadvertently fetter the scope of a review. We need to look again. Our society has changed since 2004 and 2015. Covid-19 has changed how we think about everything, including domestic violence. It has changed the parameters of what we can talk about. We do not yet know what the final report will look like. I am heartened by the interim reports indicating that the final report will be extensive and thorough. Conducting a review will be necessary, but we must not fetter the review. It is important that we reflect on it. We must have some checking mechanism to ensure that the legislation and any statutory instrument flowing from it is appropriate to a culture that is equal and respectful. The charge of paternalism must not be laid against it. The Minister is very capable of bringing that forward compassionately, sensitively and with due regard to the required balancing of rights.