The coalition is being told it may need to hold a constitutional referendum in order to tackle the issue of domestic and sexual violence.
A Dáil committee is recommening a zero tolence approach to the issue, with one member saying this is a "dirty little secret" that needs to be examined.
Around 1 in 5 people in Ireland are victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The report of the Committee says that domestic violence needs to be made a crime in Irish law.
Labour TD for Wicklow Ann Ferris is Vice-Cathaoirleach of the Justice Committee and is co-rapporteur of the report:
The Justice Committee has made 10 recommendations, and says a referendum may be required to deal with property rights, which are enshrined in the constitution.
The recommendations are:
* That the Government legislates for the necessary legal and constitutional changes to make domestic violence, in itself, a crime. Furthermore, the Committee also recommends a wider definition of "domestic violence" and "domestic abuse".
* That the Minister gives consideration to empowering and requiring the Garda Síochána to take statements regarding a complaint of domestic violence, including the compiling of a report of what the Force itself has witnessed at the time the complaint is made. This could include, if the victim permits, the taking of photographs and the immediate arrangement of a medical assessment of the victim.
* That the Minister gives consideration to creating two additional and more serious offences of marital / habitual assault and domestic assault, to be treated and punished more severely than the existing offence of assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
* The Committee recommends that consideration be given to legislating for the enhanced criminalisation of psychological abuses such as stalking and harassment within a marital or domestic context.
* The Committee recommends that consideration be given to the criminalisation of certain acts which may not necessarily involve physical harm, but focus more on psychological and emotional harm to the victim.
* It is recommended that consideration is given to reviewing the requirement that details of family law cases are held in camera, with a view to forming an appropriate reporting system for family law cases. Further to this, it is recommended that consideration for a review of how allegations of abuse in such cases are addressed, with perhaps the introduction of a requirement to refer such allegations to the Garda Síochána and DPP if they are made in the course of proceedings.
* The Committee recommends that provision is made for a Domestic Violence Unit within the courts, tasked with dispensing justice for domestic violence.
* That consideration is given to establishing a domestic violence register to catalogue details of convicted abusers.
* That consideration be given to the introduction of emergency barring orders, in order to provide immediate protection to parties at risk of violence until representation can be made before the courts.
* That the Government promotes the establishment of international standards in addressing and punishing domestic and sexual violence, including the transposition of Directive 2012/29/EU on victims' rights and the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)
