Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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108. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when Ireland will sign up to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women; and the measures required to adhere to this. [43828/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I intend to seek the approval of Government for Ireland to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence - the Istanbul convention - as early as possible in 2015. This is a matter of priority for me. To this end, the Department is working on a number of pieces of legislation which will assist in Ireland ratifying the convention.

While signing the convention, as a first step towards ratification, will of itself impose no obligations on Ireland, I consider that it would be prudent to be aware of the legislative and administrative issues which will require attention prior to Ireland being in a position to ratify the convention.

In order to ascertain what these issues might be I have written to a number of my colleagues to obtain their views on the possible issues which might require attention in their departments.

My own officials have identified a number of areas relevant to my department's responsibilities and work is proceeding in the department to address these matters.

Legislation under development in my department which will assist us in becoming fully compliant with the provisions of the convention 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 under development in my Department which will take cognisance of the requirements of the convention is a new strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence for 2015 onwards.