Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he proposes to take to give legal protection to victims of domestic violence who are currently not protected by the Domestic Violence Act 1996 in view of the fact that they are not married to their abuser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27163/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Domestic Violence Act 1996 makes substantial provision for victims of domestic violence who are not married to their abuser. A person may apply for a safety order if he or she has been living with a person as husband and wife for six months in aggregate of the previous twelve, and may apply for a barring order if he or she has been living with a person for six months in aggregate of the previous nine.

I have proposed certain changes to the Domestic Violence Acts in the General Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill which I published on 24 June 2008. These changes will extend the protections of the Domestic Violence Acts to same-sex couples who register as civil partners. Aspects of the law in relation to cohabitants will be considered in the context of development of the Bill.