Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome the Minister to the House this evening. The Labour Party welcomes the introduction of Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022. This Bill is long overdue and will bring a number of improvements to our criminal law. I am particularly pleased to see proposed improvement provisions to help with domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as provisions to tackle organised crime. Importantly, the Bill also includes new measures to address stalking and harassment.

We have all read, listened to in our clinics and seen horrific reports from victims of domestic abuse over recent months and years. We have heard accounts of mental and physical torture, stabbings and other abuses. The victims of these horrific tortures deserve much more when their cases come to court. Simply put, the sentences that were handed down to their abusers were far too low, in many cases. In previous discussions on various justice Bills with the present Minister and his predecessor as well, we have spoken about trying to encourage more victims to come forward. This point has been raised by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in a number of contributions they have made on previous Bills. I also acknowledge as the Minister did earlier, the Bill that Senator Vincent P. Martin brought to try to help victims to come forward. I think that is a very important step in this process as well.

Many victims of domestic abuse have told me that one of the biggest barriers to people naming their abuser was the brevity of the prison term their abuser might receive. This is why I feel the increase in the potential sentence for assault in domestic cases from five to ten years will be very welcome news for many of those victims and will encourage more victims to come forward.

The new measures on stalking and harassment are also very welcome. Stalking is an intrusive crime that can have devastating effects on the victims and their families. It has been rightly said and it is important that we now have a stand-alone offence in relation to the offence of stalking. Evidence from other countries points to a stand-alone offence raising awareness and encouraging more victims to come forward, which of course leads to an increase in prosecutions.

It is right that we acknowledge the work done by Senator Chambers on this Bill. It is also right to acknowledge the campaigns of Eve McDowell and Una Ring in getting us to this day. These women have shown outstanding bravery and commitment in getting us to a position where stalking will be a stand-alone offence. Both these brave women have put aside the terror they experienced to help others and tackle what they saw as a grossly inadequate legislation.

I too want to be associated with the words about today's announcement as to what is happening at Cabinet regarding the issue of assaults on members of the Garda in the course of their duties. The Minister mentioned the 89 gardaí who did not come home when they put on that uniform. It is important that we acknowledge those officers and their families. We need to show solidarity in supporting those families and all those who put on that uniform. I welcome in particular that this legislation will also include hospital staff, prison officers, fire brigade crews, ambulance personnel and members of the Defence Forces because they put their lives on the line for us every day when they put on their uniform. I am glad that the door was found by Senator Gallagher and others and we now have this legislation coming through today. Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen too many assaults on those people who put their lives on the line for us and this legislation being brought forward on Committee Stage will be welcomed by many and will be supported by the Labour Party.

This is a very important step forward in tackling crime in this country. This long overdue legislation has been campaigned for by many brave women. The Labour Party supports this legislation and will work with the Minister on getting it through the various stages in this House