Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-25
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Pauline Tully (SF), Cultural and Educational Panel

I move amendment No. 6:
In page 4, line 33, to delete “3 years” and substitute “5 years”.
The proposals in amendments Nos. 6, 7 and 8 are to delete three years and substitute it with five years on lines 33 and 37 on page 4 and line 3 on page 5. They are also to include that the court:
may, in making an order under subsection (2), specify that a longer period shall apply before an application for removal may be made, having regard to—
(a) the nature and seriousness of the offence, and
(b) the need to protect the safety and wellbeing of the victim and, where relevant, any children or dependents.”.
I also raised this on Second Stage. I feel that three years on the register before you can apply to have your name removed is very short. I feel it should be at least five years. If someone is convicted for a serious offence, serves their time in prison, comes out and is put on the register, three years goes past quickly. If a potential partner in three and a half years’ time checks that register, and the name has been removed, they will not know that person was convicted of a serious crime. I know the Minister said on Second Stage he would give consideration to this. Will he consider changing it from three years to at least five years? In some instances, the perpetrator should also be informed if the nature of the crime is really serious that they cannot apply to have their name removed from the register for an even longer period of time. The purpose of the register is to warn potential partners of someone who was convicted of a serious crime in past years of what they have done and warn the potential partner of the dangers of that before they commit to a relationship. Three years is nothing, in my opinion, and it will pass very quickly. I ask the Minister to consider increasing it to five years.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-25