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People who suffer violence in relationships, even when unmarried or living separately, will be able to get a safety order from the courts under newly published legislation.
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said the Domestic Violence Bill 2017 would empower those affected by such violence.
“Tackling domestic violence has been a priority for me throughout my career,” she said. “It is not acceptable that anyone in Ireland is subjected to abuse, fear and intimidation. Domestic violence is a pernicious evil that has devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences for victims as well as society as a whole.”
Ms Fiutzgerald said the Bill would “particularly improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence, most critically for cohabitants and parents in crisis situations, by introducing a new emergency barring order which can last for up to eight working days”.
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Speaking ahead of a conference in Dublin, Ms Fitzgerald said the Bill would make it easier for those affected by domestic violence to access protection.
“We have a new emergency barring order where in fact we are putting life and limb ahead of property and we are making sure that the person who is in a dangerous situation, even if she has or he has no rights to the property, can still get a barring order. That’s really important,” she said.
“There’s been a lot of talk about whether so-called dating relationships would be covered. I am introducing an amendment at committee stage so that those who are in intimate and committed relationships but who may not be living in the same place, that they can now get a safety order.”
Underage marriage
The Tánaiste said the legislation would make underage marriage “a thing of the past” and would also ban forced marriages. It would also make it easier for victims to go to court. She said she hoped to get the Bill before the Dáil later this term.
Ms Fitzgerald was speaking on Friday at the formal launch of the National Collective of Community-based Women’s Networks (NCCWN) in Dublin. The organisation is a network of 17 women’s community development projects from throughout the State.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said it particularly welcomed the inclusion in the Bill of measures to repeal legal exemptions which enable people under the age of 18 to marry.
It also welcomed provisions aimed at hearing the voices of children in proceedings relating to them.
According to Central Statistics Office figures, 387 children married at the age of 16 or 17 between 2004 and 2014.
Labour Senator Ivana Bacik also welcomed plans to repeal the exemptions which enable people under the age of 18 to marry.