Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Senator Martin, on this amending legislation, which I fully support. I agree with comments made by Senator Chambers. It is hard enough to convince people, particularly women, to report a crime but it is worse if, at the end of the process, they and the public see justice has not prevailed. It is disheartening for the individual, at the very least. It will put people off in the future if those who commit the crimes are not brought to justice – to real justice. This is the sort of subject on which statements should be made by the judicial system. I am aware that there is separation of powers between the political and judicial systems, for obvious reasons, but this is just common sense. It needs to be stated.

There is just one part of the Bill on which I want to speak. It relates to section 39(4) of the Domestic Violence Act. I met representatives of an amazing organisation in Clonmel called Cuan Saor Women's Refuge, which is right across the road from my office in town. My mother officially opened it when she was a Deputy 20-odd years ago. It does phenomenal work. One of the challenges it is facing now is that while coercive control does not just happen between intimate partners, intimate partners are the only ones who can be prosecuted at present. The organisation is seeing a massive increase in coercive control involving siblings, including brothers, fathers and even mothers. There is nothing in particular it can do about it and has asked that something be done legislatively to acknowledge what is happening. Subsection 39(4) of the existing legislation states a "relevant person" must be a spouse or former intimate partner. We need to recognise now that it goes beyond that. I would be interested in hearing the Minister of State's thoughts on that.

I acknowledge the work of my colleague Senator Martin on the Bill. It has my full support.