Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-25
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I thank the Senator for this very useful amendment because it leads to an important discussion. It is clearly the case that, if somebody's name is not on the register, it does not therefore mean that there is no potential issue at all about a person with whom someone is in a relationship. Unfortunately, it is the case that most people who abuse women in Ireland after the enactment of this legislation will not be on the register because a lot it will happen for the first time.
Obviously, it may be the case as well that the register does not record every person who has committed violence against a partner in the past. It is worthwhile pointing out that the absence of a person's name does not indicate that such a person does not pose a risk or was not previously engaged in domestic violence or abuse.
Like Senator Tully, I do not want to frighten everyone who is getting into a new relationship that the first thing you have to do is to run a check on the register, and if they are not on it you get a sense of relief. Certainly, if somebody was on a register and you started going out with them, you would need to consider that, but in the context of what is being proposed here, it is important that people are aware that there are limitations to the register. Obviously, I am mindful that those accessing the register may be doing do because they are experiencing domestic violence or because they are seeking information on behalf of someone who is. In such circumstances, it is important that users are provided with clear information about the supports and services available to victims of domestic violence.
While I will not accept the amendment, I do so on the basis that the provisions proposed are operational in nature. Certainly, that is something that could be put up on the website in terms of where the judgments are. The amendment is probably too granular to be provided for in primary legislation. Legislating at the level of operational detail could inadvertently reduce flexibility and create unnecessary operational constraints in the future.
That said, I fully support the objective underlying these amendments. I assure Senators that the development and placement of appropriate warnings, explanatory notices and signposting to relevant support services have already been considered in discussions between officials in my Department and the Courts Service during the preparation of this Bill. I agree that members of the public should be clearly informed of the scope and limitations of the register as well as the supports available to victims of domestic violence. I wish to make it clear that such information will be prominently displayed to individuals seeking to access the register.
As regards Senator Tully's concern, that information will clearly be made available to individuals who are accessing information on the website. I am rejecting the amendment, not because I disagree with the detail of it but because that level of detail is not required in primary legislation.

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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