Domestic violence Bill
Deputy Howlin called for the promised domestic violence Bill to include stronger protections for children, echoing Barnardos' campaign. The Minister said the Bill was due to go to Cabinet next Tuesday or the following Tuesday, and the Chair corrected him on the timeline.
In the past week, the media have been full of heartwrenching stories about children caught in domestic abuse. The tragedy of the situation is that those children do not now have the protection of law. We are assured that the domestic violence Bill will be published soon. I am sure that the Minister and, certainly, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs are aware of the campaign by Barnardos calling for badly needed protections for children to be included in the Bill, including safety orders, protections for children from abusers who are not their parents, and so on. Can the Minister assure the House and all of us who have signed the Barnardos petition that those measures will be included and set out when we will see the Bill?
Comment on this
The Bill is planned for next week or the week after.
Comment on this
Sorry, it is going to Cabinet next week or the week after. In fact, the Cabinet will be sitting on Christmas week, for the information of the House. The Bill will come to Cabinet next Tuesday or Tuesday week.