Victor Boyhan addressed the Dáil to welcome the Minister and offer full support for the Domestic Violence Judgment Register Bill 2026, commonly linked to Jenny's Law. He pledged that the Shannon Independent Group will not frustrate or delay the bill and urged collective action to protect those at risk.
Commitment in the House:
Victor Boyhan praised the Minister's energy and thanked Senators and campaigners, including Jason and Joe Poole and David French, for their advocacy. He confirmed the Shannon Independent Group's absolute commitment to ensure the bill progresses through Leinster House without delay.
What the bill does:
Boyhan described the Domestic Violence Judgment Register Bill 2026 as a concise measure to give people important safety information. He explained it will establish a mechanism to obtain official details of past history and serious offending that could indicate increased risk of domestic sexual or gender-based violence.
Acknowledgements and context:
He acknowledged departmental staff and long-time advocates working with victims of domestic abuse, coercive control and related harms. Boyhan framed the measure as one component of a collective fight against domestic abuse that affects families and communities.
Next steps and significance:
Boyhan closed by reiterating his group's commitment to every line of the legislation and urged colleagues to support the prompt passage of the bill, stressing its practical benefits for people considering or in relationships with potential perpetrators.
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Thank you for Cathaoirleach. Well firstly I want to welcome the Minister of Gain back to the House and I join with Senator Gallagher in commenting about the positive zeal and determination that you have for your portfolio. You've clearly demonstrated that Minister. My only fear is you'll have your whole programme for government in terms of your own portfolio got through by the end of the year but that's a nice objective, that's a nice date and that's a nice timeline so I wish you well with all of that. Minister I want to firstly at the very outset to welcome Jason and Joe Poole here and I know it must be a very painful journey for you but what's great is that you are strong enough, able enough and robust enough to drive the campaign for Jenny's Law. What a fitting tribute that you have the energy and the support and you clearly have the support of the Oireachtas and the Minister in relation to that and that's very critical in terms of getting legislation. It takes a lot to get any bit of legislation into Leinster House. I'm delighted and I take on board what Senator O'Loughlin talked about in terms of her commitment and also that this legislation has been initiated in this House which is very very important and there's not all that amount of legislation that's initiated in the Senate initially so I want to thank you for that. I want to also welcome David French who's had his own difficulties and family and his campaign and his advocacy and his belief and commitment to getting justice too. So this is a Domestic Violence Judgment Register Bill 2026. Minister you made an ask as indeed did Senator O'Loughlin in relation to getting this law to your hope and ambition to get this law through the Houses. I give you an absolute commitment on behalf of the Shannon Independent Group that there will be nothing standing in the way or frustrating in any way to delay in any way this legislation so that the passage of this legislation will have significant support right across the House. It certainly will have it from our members and that commitment so we don't envisage any delay at any stage for the rest of this legislation and we wholly and fully support you in your endeavours. You said this was, Minister, in your statement this was a short piece of legislation. I'd prefer to use the word concise and I think that's the clever nature of you being a barrister with the training also with your parliamentary adjustment and advisors and officials and department and I want to take this point now to acknowledge the staff that support you in this important work, the unsung heroes many times in departments and particularly around legislation so I want to acknowledge that of you. But this is a concise piece of legislation and one which will provide individuals and we know as you said peppered throughout your speech here today, more commonly associated with women, the important information in relation to safety. It will establish a mechanism to seek out from official source details of past history and serious offending that would give warnings of an increased risk of domestic sexual or gender-based violence and this will benefit those in a relationship or considering entering a relationship with such a person rather than relying on a secondary material of such reporting. So the measure is one component of our collective fight and I think that's important it's a collective fight against domestic sexual and gender-based violence. I want to take this opportunity also to acknowledge the support of the advocates. There are many advocates for many years out there working quietly away in terms of being supportive of people that are victims of domestic abuse, coercive control and many aspects that are covered in this bill and they've gone on, I mean they haven't gone around in silence for a long time but that day is over now and people are talking about it and one of the great things about it is the collective men and women and all people recognising the absolute damage, the devastation that domestic abuse does on family, on people, on our society and on our communities. So Minister I close with this, no point in going on at length to speak for my full time, it's not necessary. I am fully committed to every line in this legislation and I here stand committing the Shannon Independent Group to doing likewise. Thank you.
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