Sinn Féin justice Spokesperson Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the government to take real action and change the laws on domestic violence.
Speaking in advance of next week’s International 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence (25th November to 10th December 2012),
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said “One in five women in Ireland experience domestic abuse and much of this is underreported. We need a radical overhaul of how the law deals with the issue in order to ensure that the justice system caters to the needs of abuse victims and keeps them and their children safe.
“Sinn Féin supports the calls of Women’s Aid and other organisations, for the Government to urgently review domestic violence legislation including eligibility criteria for both Safety and Barring Orders, as well as addressing the lack of emergency protection when the Courts are not sitting.
“It is also clear that guidelines must be introduced to improve consistency in the granting of orders and the legislation on stalking must be improved,” he said.
The Donegal TD said Sinn Fein are also calling on Labour to live up to their election commitment for frontline services such as family refuges. Thousands of women and desperate situations are being turned away from refuges each year because this government have failed to provide them with adequate funding.”
