Written answers

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Domestic Violence

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for ratification of the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46662/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I and my Government colleagues are totally committed to tackling violence against women and domestic violence.

The Programme for Government commits to full implementation of the Istanbul Convention. This Convention is a significant legal instrument in tackling violence against women and domestic violence. Many of the actions required by provisions in the Istanbul Convention are being implemented on a daily basis under current legislation and administrative practice. The actions necessary to ratify the Istanbul Convention are contained in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021, published in January, 2016.

A number of actions are completed. Of the outstanding actions, six are administrative including public sector training/education by a range of State agencies, the development of a Risk Assessment Matrix by An Garda Síochána, commissioning of a national helpline service to respond to issues of domestic and sexual violence, and support for child witnesses. Work on implementing these actions is progressing on schedule to be implemented by the end of 2017.

The remaining actions are legislative and require delivery of three pieces of legislation:

i) The Victims Bill (which delivers one action) passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas on 26 October . This important legislation transposes Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards for rights, supports and protection of victims of crime. Arrangements are in train for signature and commencement of the legislation.

ii) The Domestic Violence Bill which was published on 3 February 2017 and is at Committee Stage in the Seanad. It is hoped that this Bill will be enacted before the end of the year. The enactment of this legislation is key to advancing the ratification of the Istanbul Convention as its enactment will deliver four of the actions required under the Istanbul Convention.

iii) The one remaining legislative action is the enactment of legislation for extraterritorial jurisdiction. Work on this action is under way.

When the required actions are implemented, Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Convention. The intended  timeframe for this is Q1 2018, This timeframe is dependent on the delivery of the legislative actions outlined.

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