Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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114. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the further steps she must take for Ireland to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combatting domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9889/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The protection of members of society from domestic violence, sexual violence and exploitation are primary concerns for me and my Department. The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument in the fight against domestic and sexual violence. Ireland is fully supportive of the aims and terms of the Convention and the Deputy will be aware that Ireland signed the Convention on 5 November 2015. The recently published Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to implementing the Istanbul Convention. The previous Government gave approval to an action plan, which was published in November 2015. The Plan contains 18 legislative and administrative actions which, when implemented, will enable Ireland ratify the Convention. All of the time-bound actions are also contained in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was published in January. The strategy will be monitored by key state and non-state stakeholders dealing with domestic and sexual violence to ensure it is implemented.