merrion street

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to thank Barnardos for inviting me to open this seminar today.
Being here gives me the opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable work this organisation does in its work with vulnerable children. I will begin by being very upfront and very direct about domestic abuse. Domestic abuse happens because someone decides to hurt a person they live with, a person they have committed to, and decided to share their lives with. So let me say here and now to the people who decide to do this – You are ultimately weak because you seek to derive false strength by preying on vulnerable people behind the closed doors of your home. You are shameful in your cowardice. As Minister for Justice, I will not rest until you stop.
Earlier this month I launched a major awareness campaign – “What would you do?” - to increase the awareness of domestic and sexual violence. The reaction is huge, not least because, for perhaps the first time, it nails the idea of the innocent bystander. Domestic violence has no innocent bystanders. When we - as relatives, friends, neighbours, witnesses ---- when we turn away, we are complicit. It is about prevention. It is about empowerment and it's about support. It offers hope and support to victims of such violence and it empowers us as witnesses to such violence to find out what we can do to help stop domestic violence and to support people who are caught up in this most devastating of human experiences. Children living with domestic violence are among the most vulnerable in our society and are absolutely in need of our protection and support. They live in a situation that is an unimaginable horror.
In my previous role as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I oversaw a number of reforms including the establishment of the Child and Family Agency Tusla, and targeting child protection services with HIQA reports. I also oversaw the Children First Bill; and of course the successful Children’s Referendum that saw our citizens vote to amend the Constitution to strengthen the rights of children. This was a significant development in our country’s history. My commitment to vulnerable children remains as Minister for Justice and Equality. Because we know that prolonged and/or regular exposure to domestic abuse can have a serious impact on a child’s development and emotional well-being.
Let’s be absolutely clear. A child that witnesses domestic violence is an abused child. The harm and long term impact on children from living with domestic violence is now widely recognised in research. Children living with domestic violence can have behavioural and developmental problems, poor school performance and impaired social and relationship development which can cause them problems throughout their lives. Children living in homes where domestic violence occurs are damaged and, tragically, that damage can be lifelong.
Everyone in this room shares a common goal – we want to end domestic violence. It is my intention to publish the Domestic Violence Bill in the coming weeks. Some key improvements of the Bill include allowing the courts to appoint an expert to ascertain the views of a child where an order is sought on behalf of, or will partly relate to, the child. It will be possible for a victim to give evidence by televisual link to avoid the risk of intimidation by the perpetrator or an associate in civil and criminal proceedings.
The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Bill is also currently making its way through the Oireachtas. The Bill includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. It aims to combat child sexual exploitation and targeting sexual grooming. There are new offences of paying for the purpose of sexually exploiting a child; invitation to sexual touching; sexual activity in the presence of a child; causing a child to watch sexual activity; and making arrangements to meet a child for the purpose of sexually exploiting that child.
Two new offences target online sexual predators to protect children from exploitation by way of new technologies. In relation to child pornography there are new offences of recruitment of a child or arranging for a child to participate in a pornographic performance and organising child prostitution or child pornography. And offences relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography are strengthened.
Everything I have seen, experienced and encountered in my career to date convinces me that this Bill is essential to protect victims of the most depraved crimes. The Government is also committed to significant reform of the courts, including the establishment of a family law court structure that is streamlined, more efficient, and less costly. I am working to bring a General Scheme of a Family Court Bill next year and my officials are currently working on a detailed plan as to how a new integrated family court system would look in practice.
The Family Court Bill will aim to streamline family law court processes, clarify jurisdictional issues and provide for a set of guiding principles to help ensure that the Family Court will operate in a user-friendly and efficient manner. The intention is to establish a dedicated Family Court within the existing court structures. Over 300,000 people in Ireland have been severely abused by a partner at some point in their lives.
So let me conclude by saying that despite improvements in how society responds to domestic violence, there is so much more work to be done. The battle against domestic violence is one that will never end. It is not acceptable that anyone, in this country, is subjected to physical or sexual abuse. It is not acceptable that children live in fear and intimidation. The devastating effect on these children cannot be overstated. Physical injuries are obvious. Trauma, fear and stress may be less visible but can be even more damaging.
We must continue to work together to give back power and control; and offer hope and choice and the beginnings of a better future. Barnardos is an important organisation contributing greatly to the efforts that are being made to secure a better future for our children.
Finally, let me pay tribute to you once again on your vital work.