Domestic violence and Northern Ireland
Mary Lou McDonald seeks progress on consolidated domestic violence legislation and confirmation of statements on the North and support for the Belfast agreement. The Tánaiste expects the Bill early next year and confirms the statements and the Government’s support.
I have called Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. I ask her and the remaining speakers to exercise brevity.
Comment on this
With respect, the problem in regard to a lack of brevity is coming from the other side of the House.
Comment on this
When can we expect the consolidated domestic violence legislation to be brought forward? I have been asking about it since 2011 and have been fobbed off repeatedly. The Government seems to have put the matter on the long finger. Second, will the Tánaiste confirm that there will be statements on the North next Wednesday? Will she also confirm her support and that of the Labour Party for the agreement reached in recent days in Belfast?
Comment on this
The consolidated Bill on domestic violence is expected early next year. On the Deputy's second point, I confirm there will be statements on the North next Wednesday, as previously indicated. I take this opportunity, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Labour Party, to wish the First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, well in his retirement. Having spent quite a lot of time at the negotiations that led to the deal, I am absolutely delighted that the ten weeks or more the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, have spent on this stage of the discussions have yielded an outcome.