Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion. I commend Senator O'Loughlin on bringing this Bill to the House. I am very proud to support it. I commend Jason Poole on his tireless work in the midst of unbelievable horror and grief for his family. He has turned that into a positive and tried to do something that is badly needed for the women of Ireland, that is, creating this register. I really commend Jason on his tireless campaigning, along with Senator O'Loughlin, Councillor Deirdre Heney and our colleague, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, in the Dáil.

It is vitally important that we do something. Too many women are dying in their homes at the hands of intimate partners or former intimate partners. Quite often, red flags are raised but they sometimes go unnoticed or people doubt their own interpretation of them. If the register and alerts like those Senator O'Loughlin has described operating in other jurisdictions were in operation, people would be able to get the information they need to stay safe. These abusers do not change. Once an abuser, always an abuser. If somebody has convictions for coercive control or violence towards an intimate partner or former intimate partner, they are going to do it again, which can end up in even more tragic consequences. In an effort to keep women safe, we need to introduce this measure. I really hope the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will look favourably on this and proceed with it. It is unfortunate she is not here to hear this debate. I hope action will be taken at this point. In a previous life, I was a family lawyer and dealt with domestic violence applications in the District Court. Such orders and our courts system are not sufficient.Often, the processes that are there do not adequately protect people who are experiencing violence. Unfortunately, too many women are dying in their own homes, such as Jennifer Poole, at the hands of a known abuser. I think we should reiterate that point. He had abused previous partners. Jennifer did not know she was at grave risk or that her children were at grave risk of being left without their mother. If she had known, far more steps would have been taken to protect her and her family. It is really stark when you think about it, that she did everything right, she ended the relationship and because she was such a kind-hearted person, she showed kindness to this abuser and he killed her. I remember when Jennifer was murdered. She lived not too far away from where I live. It was really shocking. I know people who worked with Jennifer and would have known what a lovely person she was, and what a good mother and kind-hearted person she was.

What we need to do is elevate the seriousness of domestic violence. We have a sexual offenders register. Domestic violence is just as corrosive to the individual and just as harmful to the individual and to society as sexual violence. We need this Bill to be acted upon immediately. I hope the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will take a good look at this Bill. Let us all work together across both Houses and all parties to do right by Jennie Poole and all the other women that have unfortunately died or suffered injury and trauma down through the years.