Harassment Bill progress
Brendan Howlin raised the Government’s support for the Labour Party’s harassment Bill, including provisions on cyberbullying, revenge porn and upskirting. The Minister said the Bill was being drafted and that further consultation with Labour would continue.
Subject to it being drafted, there is no impediment to publishing it.
Let me raise a different issue. The Government has indicated that it will support the Labour Party's Bill to update the law on harassment. The Taoiseach will be aware that there has been controversy in the United Kingdom about the blocking of a Bill to deal with the offence of upskirting. The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 which is based on the Law Reform Commission's proposals deals with a number of things, including cyberbullying, revenge porn and upskirting. The Minister has indicated that he will work with us to progress it. He might update us on where exactly is the legislation. Is there any prospect of having it debated in this session?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy, in particular, and the Labour Party for their contribution in bringing forward this important legislation. It is being drafted. I am keen to see further consultation take place with the Labour Party as the sponsor of the original Bill. I expect that we will be able to report a large measure of progress between now and the end of term.