The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed the introduction of new laws targeting domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Act 2018 came into effect today.

The legislation includes the creation of the new offence of coercive control and a new criminal offence of forced marriage.

It also includes an "extensive" list of factors that courts must consider when considering applications for barring orders and domestic violence orders.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) CEO Noeline Blackwell said it is the first time the state has tackled a whole range of problems.

“It is a really important step forward,” she said.

“Because, while we have had laws around domestic violence, we have never had a piece of legislation before that concentrates on the totality of domestic violence.

“It goes right through from physical assault through financial and emotional abuse and to the area where we in the DRCC see it as well – through sexual violence.”

The legislation makes safety orders available to people who are in intimate relationships but were not living with their partner.

It also makes them available to victims who are living in a home owned by their abuser.

This evening, the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan admitted gardaí do not currently have adequate training to enforce all of the provisions.

He insisted however that enough resources will be committed to appoint dedicated officers in each division.

“What we will see is designated gardaí in each and every garda division who will be trained and who will be in a position to act as dedicated officers when dealing with often complex but always harrowing domestic violence situations,” he said.