Relevant Matter
Legislation
Public Policy Area
Justice and Equality
Period
1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017
Specific Details
Submission and recommendations for amendments to the Domestic Violence Bill 2017
Intended results
The Law Society recommended: 1. A definition of domestic violence be included at section 2 of the Bill to include all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, including online stalking and harassment.
2. Extend the courts’ power to grant safety and protection orders to those in dating and intimate relationships who are not cohabiting, regardless of age.
3. In line with other jurisdictions, the Bill should include criteria as to factors to betaken into account by a court hearing an application for any type of Domestic Violence Order.
4. Provide for a member of the Garda Síochána to apply for an order where there is an immediate risk of harm if an applicant cannot access the court in a safe and timely way.
5. Section 8(16)(2) of the Bill should be amended to allow for applicants to make alternative arrangements for safety, outside the existing statutory timelines.
6. Ensure that all barring, interim barring and emergency orders are served on the respondent by a member of the Garda Síochána.
7. The Bill should permit arrangements for service of safety and protection orders by a member of the Garda Síochána.
8. UN recommendations in respect of dispensing with legal aid contributions for domestic violence cases must be accommodated within the Bill.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Ken Murphy, Director General
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Submission (1)
This, and other submissions are available directly at: https://www.lawsociety.ie/Solicitors/Representation/Submissions/
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Niall Ó Donnghaile
Senator (Seanad)
Martin Conway
Senator (Seanad)
Lorraine Clifford-Lee
Senator (Seanad)
Frances Black
Senator (Seanad)
Jerry Buttimer
Senator (Seanad)
Ken O'Leary
Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice and Equality)
Alice-Mary Higgins
Senator (Seanad)
David Norris
Senator (Seanad)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Senator (Seanad)
Catherine Ardagh
Senator (Seanad)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Senator (Seanad)
Ivana Bacik
Senator (Seanad)
Colette Kelleher
Senator (Seanad)