Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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442. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Programme for Government commitment to introduce domestic homicide reviews legislation can be delivered as he has yet to publish the study on familicide and domestic homicide reviews submitted to him in the summer of 2022; and if he remains committed to the zero-tolerance policy as set out in the Third Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. [21323/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, an independent study was commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews.

This independent research involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including family members of victims, state agencies and non-governmental organisations, with a view to making recommendations to improve the State's response to familicide and domestic homicide.

Given the sensitivities involved, it also required the study lead to pay particular attention to the fair procedures part of the process which involved allowing any person or organisation who might be affected by the contents of the draft report (including the families concerned) to be given an opportunity to reply to the contents of the report.

The Deputy will appreciate that, due to the gravity of the subject matter and the impact on victims' families, thorough examination of the report is necessary before publication.

I will be meeting with the victims’ families shortly and my intention is to bring the report to Government as soon as possible thereafter.

I can assure the Deputy that tackling domestic, sexual, and gender based violence, and providing supports for victims is a priority for me as Minister for Justice.

I am deeply committed to delivering on the goal of our Zero Tolerance Strategy, namely a society that does not accept any form of domestic, sexual or gender based violence or the attitudes which underpin it. The Strategy is an ambitious, five-year, whole-of-Government programme of reform and its publication was accompanied by a detailed implementation plan containing 144 actions which will take us to the end of this year.

Work is advancing in a number of areas, across my Department and others, to progress the various actions under the Strategy. In addition, at the end of February, I secured Government approval for the drafting of legislation to set up the new DSGBV agency which will be tasked with ensuring the delivery of excellent services to victims of DSGBV and with driving and coordinating the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy across Government. This new agency will bring the dedicated and expert focus that is needed to tackle this serious and complex societal issue.