Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, in view of the murder of a person (details supplied) and statistics which show that 50% of women who are victims of homicide are killed by their partner or former partner, she will prioritise the publication of the domestic violence Bill 2016 and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention to combat domestic violence against women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27432/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Given that the shocking and tragic event to which the Deputy refers is still under investigation it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific case other than to reiterate my deepest condolences and sympathy for the family of the victims. Domestic violence is a social evil and the protection of members of society from domestic violence remains a priority for me and my Department. Drafting of the Domestic Violence Bill is at an advanced stage. It is my intention that the Bill will be submitted for Government approval and published during the current Dáil session. The Bill will improve access to barring orders and provide for greater supports for victims in the court process in areas such as court accompaniment. The enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill is one of the actions required in order to enable Ireland to ratify the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument in the fight against domestic and sexual violence. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to implementing in full the Convention. Work is underway across a range of Government agencies to implement the legislative and administrative actions required for ratification of the Istanbul Convention. Those actions are contained in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence which was published in January. Monitoring of the implementation of the strategy, which involves representatives from key state organisations and the community and voluntary sector, has commenced and formal reporting on the implementation of the strategy will take place every six months.

The Deputy may also wish to note I recently announced the awarding of contracts for a national awareness campaign as part of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence 2016-2021. Funding of €950,000 for 2016 has been secured for this campaign. In addition, funding of €200,000 has been awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund to localise the campaign in 2016 and 2017. The campaign will commence in the last quarter of 2016 and it is intended that it will run for a period of 6 years up to 2021, subject to the continued availability of the necessary funding. The overall aim of the campaign is to increase the awareness of domestic and sexual violence, to bring about a change in long established societal behaviours and attitudes and to activate bystanders with the aim of decreasing and preventing this violence. It will recognise that women and men are victims of such crimes.