Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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311. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, concluded in April 2011 and which has recently come into force; when Ireland will ratify this important convention; her plans to ensure that Irish legislation is compliant with the standards established in the convention. [43086/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has not yet ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.

Prior to ratifying any international convention we must be certain that we can implement all the requirements of the convention. My officials have identified a number of areas relevant to my department's responsibilities where legislative and administrative changes will be required and work is proceeding in the department to address these matters. I have also written to a number of government departments and agencies to obtain their views on other possible legislative and administrative issues which might arise in their areas of responsibility.

Legislation is under development in my Department which will assist us in becoming fully compliant with the provisions of the convention. This includes consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence; legislation to transpose the EU Victims of Crime Directive and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014.

Another measure which will address the requirements of the convention will be the development of a new strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence for 2015 onwards. I expect to see good progress towards ratification in 2015.