Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When a person is convicted of stalking or harassment offences, essentially, the court will have the power to make a no-contact order prohibiting any type of communication or that person going within a certain distance of the other person's residence, education or employment, and if that person is in breach of such an order, it is a very serious offence. What these amendments do is complement that provision and ensure such orders are properly notified. It means that when this order is made, it is notified in writing to the relevant parties, which includes the victim and local gardaí, and this obviously helps with the enforcement but it also makes it much clearer when there is a potential breach in regard to a prosecution.

I know this is an issue that has been raised by victims. I acknowledge Eve McDowell and Una Ring, who are in the Visitors Gallery today, and who have campaigned for this but, more broadly, for the introduction of the standalone stalking offence. It is important when we are doing this that we cover all bases and that, where possible, all scenarios are covered to ensure that when a non-contact order is put in place, everybody who should know is aware of that and it is made readily available in the first instance. That is what this amendment will do.