Written answers

Wednesday, 7 December 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Violence Against Women

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Government plans to conduct large-scale public awareness and educational programmes highlighting violence against women and carry out training for public officials, the Judiciary and other professionals who deal with this issue during the course of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38354/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 517 of Wednesday, 2 November 2005. The position remains as set out in that response.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to review the civil and criminal justice system to ensure that it prevents and punishes persons found guilty of violence against women in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the needs of women and children as both victims and witnesses of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38355/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While a comprehensive range of civil and criminal justice measures are in place to tackle violence against women, the operation of the law in this area is kept under ongoing review.

The Domestic Violence Acts 1996 and 2002 provide for the protection of a spouse and any children or other dependent persons, and of persons in other domestic relationships, whose safety or welfare requires it because of the conduct of another person in the domestic relationship concerned. Contravention of an order under the Acts, that is, a safety order, a barring order, an interim barring order or a protection order, is an offence and subject to sanctions under the criminal law . Under the Acts the Garda has powers of arrest without warrant to deal with cases of domestic violence. The Legal Aid Board has in place procedures to provide an immediate appointment to persons requiring legal advice in the context of seeking an order under this legislation.

Furthermore, under the code of criminal law, there is a range of sanctions that the court can apply in cases involving violence against women. The Garda Síochána has in place a domestic violence intervention policy which stresses the seriousness of this type of crime and Garda training addresses issues particular to the investigation of cases of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and incorporates input from various experts, including NGOs active in this field.

Many of the measures being advanced by the commission for the support of victims of crime, which I established earlier this year, also play an important role in responding to this type of crime. In particular the commission has already approved funding totalling €290,000 for the provision of services by groups which deal directly with women and children who are victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Tackling the problem of violence against women requires multifaceted solutions and involves a far broader range of agencies than those within the civil and criminal justice systems alone. For this reason, a national steering committee, NSC, involving all of the relevant Departments as well as key voluntary groups, is charged with co-ordinating our response to this issue. The NSC is working on a new strategy and action plan which will build on the work achieved to date and chart progress for the future. This document is due to be finalised early next year and will be widely disseminated at that time.

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