Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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445. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will sign up to the European Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39822/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland supports, in principle, the aims and terms of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The provisions of the convention and the legislative and administrative arrangements that would be necessary to allow signature and ratification of the convention by Ireland are being examined in conjunction with the government commitment to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims. However, a particular difficulty to be addressed in Ireland’s consideration of the convention relates to reconciling property rights under the Irish constitution with the requirement under Article 52 of the convention - the availability of emergency barring orders to all. At present Barring Orders and Interim Barring Orders are only available under our domestic violence legislation to those persons with an equal or greater interest in the residence to which an order would apply.

Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is considering a wide range of proposals including proposals for reform from voluntary sector organisations.

In addition I am aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality are to shortly examine the issue of domestic violence with a view to compiling a report with recommendations on what measures can be put in place to reduce domestic violence. It is my intention to examine a package of workable and effective proposals for the legislation as soon as possible following receipt of their report.

I should inform the Deputy that the convention has not yet entered into force as this requires at least ten ratifications, including 8 Council of Europe member states.