24/07/2015

New Domestic Violence Bill Introduced

The heads and general scheme, which has been approved by Government, of the new Domestic Violence Bill, have been published today, 24 July.

The preparation of reformed and consolidated legislation on domestic violence delivers on a Programme for Government commitment.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality, said: "I hope my new Domestic Violence Bill will help in tackling this horror head-on and giving fresh hope to victims that they are not alone.

"Protecting and supporting victims has been a key priority for me as Minister for Justice. This new legislation to protect and support victims of domestic violence builds on the broader Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill, which I announced last week.

"This new bill will particularly improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence, most critically for those victims in crisis situations, making it much easier for them to obtain interim barring orders.

"The Bill will remove the requirement that a person must have at least an equal interest in a property to apply for an interim barring order (for 8 working days) in an emergency or crisis situation."

(CD/JP)

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