Kildare Senator: “It is vital that Bill to establish a Domestic Violence Register proceeds as quickly as possible”

"It is vital that Bill to establish a Domestic Violence Register proceeds as quickly as possible": that's according to one Kildare-based Senator.

The comments were made by Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who is also the Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus.

She said that she has written to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, and has highlighted that recent high-profile cases of violence against women necessitate that her Bill, the Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023, 'proceeds to committee stage as soon as there is time within the Seanad schedule.'

Explaining the Bill, Senator O’Loughlin said: "The shocking attack on Natasha O'Brien was a violent and vicious assault which was unprovoked and I want to commend the bravery, courage and dignity of Natasha and the manner in which she has come forward.

"The attack was unfortunately just the latest high-profile example of gender-based and domestic violence which is a scourge in our country; we have to do everything we can to change this."

She continued: "According to Women’s Aid, in the publicly reported enforcement of the coercive control offence from January of 2019 to May of 2024, in 42 per cent of cases, the victim had already obtained a protective order against the perpetrator.

"In 58 per cent of cases, the perpetrator had previous conviction(s) and / or was known to gardaí.

"Women’s Aid themselves have warned that these figures are just the 'tip of the iceberg', as it is believed that a third of women will never come forward."

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin speaking in the Seanad (File photograph).

The Newbridge politician further said: "These horrific statistics show how the existence of a Domestic Violence Register could help prevent domestic and gender-based violence.

"It would give the gardaí a tool to be able to inform somebody, when asked, if their partner has a violent history. 

“I have written to Minister McEntee requesting a meeting to discuss my Bill to create a Domestic Violence Register; it (the Bill) must be brought to committee stage as soon as there is time in the Seanad schedule."

Senator O'Loughlin also revealed that she had launched the Bill with Jason Poole, the brother of the late Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her ex-partner who had a history of domestic violence.

"Cases like Jennifer’s, as well as recent high-profile cases like Natasha’s, prove that as legislators we have a duty to leave no stone unturned in tackling violence against women and doing everything we can to protect women in similar situations," she added.