Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
300. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether her Department has undertaken any review, audit or assessment of the effectiveness of coercive control legislation since its commencement in 2019. [38579/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and ensuring that victims and survivors are fully supported, remain absolute priorities for this Government.
These commitments underpin the Third National Strategy on DSGBV and a key element of achieving the Strategy’s aims is through robust legislation.
The offence of coercive control, newly provided for under section 39 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, recognises and criminalises patterns of psychological and emotional abuse within intimate relationships. A person convicted of this offence is liable to receive a fine or face imprisonment for up to five years.
The Domestic Violence Act 2018 was commenced on 1 January 2019. In July 2019, my Department published a post-enactment report on the Act, which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The report updated on progress achieved regarding the implementation of the Act, including on the creation of the new offence of coercive control.
The report is available on the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas: opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/JUQdoclaid160719_111304.pdf
My Department keeps the operation of this, and all legislation, under review to ensure that it is achieving its intended purpose.
