Joe Conway (Independent)

Unfortunately I was not here for Senator's Ryan's contribution, which I am picking up from subsequent speakers was poignant and harrowing. Agus é sin ráite, tá fadhb agam leis an leasú seo. I have a couple of problems with the language in this amendment. In this country the legal definition of a "child" is anyone up to the age of 18. I also have a problem with the use of the word "shall" in the amendment. I am going to paint for the House a brief scenario of a father effecting domestic violence against his partner or wife. They have one son who is aged 17. He is there to do his utmost to defend his mum. The way the amendment is drafted that child will then be considered as an aggravating factor in the domestic violence because the word "shall" is used. The amendment should have the word "may" in view of the fact that the legal age for children is 18. The enforcement of the word "shall" is very dangerous from a legal point of view.