Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2020-12-18
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Regina Doherty (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I believe all Members have been contacted by Safe Ireland, which expressed disappointment that the section was removed yesterday. This year has been unprecedented in so many ways, but particularly for the victims of domestic violence. The Garda, Safe Ireland and other agencies have done a sterling job, as has the Government in the context of tweaking schemes to ensure that we try to look after people. The Department of Justice has also had ongoing campaigns. We have stepped up to try to ensure that not only are the people who are presenting minded but also that we make people aware of the societal issue and particularly the growth in the issue this year.
It is weird that we would be given the opportunity to fix a glaring problem and that we are not taking it. What are the Department's plans for the new legislation? When will we see it? When will pre-legislative scrutiny take place? Why has this opportunity been missed?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2020-12-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:58+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-12-18