Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) continues to be subjected to continuous harassment and abuse from their former spouse, despite the existence of a protection order which appears to be not enforced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38450/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the investigation and prevention of crime and potential criminal activity are operational matters for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána,

That said, I have been informed that gardai that the person in question obtained a Protection Order on the 22 August 2024.

The Order was received from the Court Service, processed, and then transmitted to the respondent's local garda station for service.

The Protection Order was served on 24 September 2024, and the conditions and content were explained to the respondent.

Gardai are currently investigating complaints made by the victim regarding harassment.

Investigating members contacted the victim on 24 September last and updated her in respect of the position relating to the Protection Order and the ongoing investigations.

I want to reassure the Deputy that I am committed to preventing and combatting all forms of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV), including through the introduction of new, stronger legislation to hold perpetrators to account and by improving supports for victims.

In 2022, I published our five-year Zero Tolerance Strategy on DSGBV which sets out an ambitious, whole of government, programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.

A key action of the Strategy is improving prosecutions of breaches of any and all DSGBV civil orders provided for in domestic violence and family law legislation.

I am also leading on an ambitious programme of family justice reform. A central element of this is the establishment of dedicated Family Courts with specialist judges assigned on a full-time basis. This will ensure that our family justice system works better for everyone engaging with it, but particularly for those who need additional supports and protections, such as domestic violence victims.

Earlier this year, I officially established Cuan, the new statutory DSGBV Agency, which is key to delivering on the ambition of the strategy, including in relation to prevention, education and awareness raising, training for all who come into contact with vulnerable victims (including the legal professions) and ensuring the right supports are there to protect victims.

I have been informed by Cuan that the National Domestic Abuse Unit has engaged with the Garda College to assist in updating the training provided with regard to domestic abuse orders.

This is in fulfilment of Cuan's goal to ensure that training and knowledge around prosecutions of domestic abuse orders, in particular barring orders, is reiterated and reinforced to the operational ranks of An Garda Síochána.