George Lawlor urges civil protection for sexual violence survivors
George Lawlor spoke in strong support of a bill to create civil protection orders for survivors of serious sexual offences, arguing the measure extends protection beyond conviction. He thanked Sinn Féin for bringing the bill to the floor and said his Labour Party colleagues will support it.
The bill would introduce civil protection orders for victims of serious sexual offences, prohibiting contact and proximity and barring offenders from contacting victims or approaching their homes, workplaces or schools. Breaches would be a criminal offence carrying penalties including fines and imprisonment, breaches could be treated as aggregating factors and repeat violations would weigh heavily in sentencing. Orders would be time-bound and subject to judicial oversight, with the rights of offenders respected but not allowed to override victims' rights.
Lawlor cited national figures to underline urgency: 40% of adults have experienced sexual violence at some point, 52% of women and 28% of men. He said 26% of adults experienced sexual violence as adults and that 18% of women and 3% of men report non-consensual sexual intercourse as adults. He highlighted reporting delays - one in five survivors waits more than 10 years to disclose, and nearly half of those abused under 13 take more than a decade to report to Gardaí - and noted that in 2024 only 8% of sexual offences reported to Gardaí were detected.
Speaking from experience on the Voluntary Board of Wexford Women's Refuge and work with Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, he said local services are beyond capacity despite recent new-build facilities. He noted Wexford Women's Refuge tripled its capacity and still needs more beds, while the crisis centre is "in crisis" with one new case every day and staff "put to the pin of their collar" trying to meet demand.
He framed the bill as more than legal reform - "a lifeline for survivors" - providing a legal shield so survivors can rebuild lives without ongoing fear. He gave humanising examples, imagining a young woman returning to college, a mother walking her child to school and his perspective as a father of three daughters to stress the personal stakes. Passing the bill was described as a moral imperative to show survivors - "we hear you, we believe you, and we will protect you."
Lawlor said the measure builds on past legislation from the Criminal Law, Rape Act 1981 to the Sexual Offences Act 2017, filling a gap by providing a comprehensive civil remedy post-conviction. He argued that similar laws internationally have reduced harassment, increased victim confidence and supported survivor-centred justice systems, and that Ireland should follow that example.
Bill proposal and scope
The bill would introduce civil protection orders for victims of serious sexual offences, prohibiting contact and proximity and barring offenders from contacting victims or approaching their homes, workplaces or schools. Breaches would be a criminal offence carrying penalties including fines and imprisonment, breaches could be treated as aggregating factors and repeat violations would weigh heavily in sentencing. Orders would be time-bound and subject to judicial oversight, with the rights of offenders respected but not allowed to override victims' rights.
Scale of sexual violence in Ireland
Lawlor cited national figures to underline urgency: 40% of adults have experienced sexual violence at some point, 52% of women and 28% of men. He said 26% of adults experienced sexual violence as adults and that 18% of women and 3% of men report non-consensual sexual intercourse as adults. He highlighted reporting delays - one in five survivors waits more than 10 years to disclose, and nearly half of those abused under 13 take more than a decade to report to Gardaí - and noted that in 2024 only 8% of sexual offences reported to Gardaí were detected.
Pressure on support services in Wexford
Speaking from experience on the Voluntary Board of Wexford Women's Refuge and work with Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, he said local services are beyond capacity despite recent new-build facilities. He noted Wexford Women's Refuge tripled its capacity and still needs more beds, while the crisis centre is "in crisis" with one new case every day and staff "put to the pin of their collar" trying to meet demand.
Rationale and moral case
He framed the bill as more than legal reform - "a lifeline for survivors" - providing a legal shield so survivors can rebuild lives without ongoing fear. He gave humanising examples, imagining a young woman returning to college, a mother walking her child to school and his perspective as a father of three daughters to stress the personal stakes. Passing the bill was described as a moral imperative to show survivors - "we hear you, we believe you, and we will protect you."
Legislative background and international evidence
Lawlor said the measure builds on past legislation from the Criminal Law, Rape Act 1981 to the Sexual Offences Act 2017, filling a gap by providing a comprehensive civil remedy post-conviction. He argued that similar laws internationally have reduced harassment, increased victim confidence and supported survivor-centred justice systems, and that Ireland should follow that example.
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Transcript
Thank you, Cagherlach, and at the outset can I welcome all those people in the public gallery and can I thank them for all they've done to campaign for victims of sexual violence and indeed campaign for change. Minister, I'm pleased to speak in strong support of this bill and I thank Sinn Féin for bringing it forward to the floor of the House and my colleagues in the Labour Party will be supporting it. This legislation is not just a legal reform, it is a lifeline for survivors. It is about ensuring that justice does not end a conviction, but continues to protect those who have endured unimaginable harm. Sexual violence is one of the most devastating crimes in our society. It is not only an assault on the body, it is an assault on dignity, trust and the very sense of safety that every person deserves. And the scale of this problem in Ireland is staggering. 40% of adults have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. For women, that figure is a staggering 52%. For men, 28%. And 26% of adults have experienced sexual violence as adults. And most harrowing of all, Minister, is that 18% of women and 3% of men report non-consensual sexual intercourse as adults. These are not just numbers, they represent lives, shattered lives, futures altered and trust broken. And yet, despite this prevalence, reporting remains low and delayed. One in five survivors waits more than 10 years to disclose abuse. Nearly half of those abused as children under 13 take more than a decade to report to Gardaí. Even when cases are reported, justice is far from guaranteed. In 2024, only 8% of sexual offences reported to Gardaí were detected. Meanwhile, demand for support services is surging. Rape crisis centres recorded 13,098 helpline contacts and 14,778 counselling appointments last year. A 48% increase. These figures tell us one thing clearly. Survivors need more than words. They need action. They need protection that lasts beyond the courtroom. This bill, I believe, introduces civil protection orders for victims of serious sexual offences. These orders will prohibit contact and proximity. Offenders will be barred from contacting victims or approaching their homes, workplaces or schools. And it makes breaches a criminal offence. And that is vital. Violating these orders will carry penalties, including fines and imprisonment. It's time to treat breaches also as aggregating factors. And repeat violations will weigh heavily in sentencing. Imagine a young woman trying to return to college after a trial. And I can tell you as a father of three daughters, I would find this harrowing. So I can only imagine how a victim would feel. A mother walking her child to school. A man rebuilding his life. Always wondering if the person who violated them might appear on the street alongside them or around the next corner. This is the reality for many survivors today. Without civil protection, justice ends at sentencing. But the fear, and absolute fear, continues. This bill gives survivors a legal shield. A sense of safety and the freedom to move forward. These orders are issued only after conviction for serious sexual offences. They are time-bound and subject to judicial oversight. The rights of the offenders are, of course, respected. But they do not override, and must not override, the right of victims to live without fear. This bill builds on decades of progress from the Criminal Law, Rape Act of 1981 to the Sexual Offences Act of 2017. But none of these measures provided a comprehensive civil remedy for victims post-conviction. Today this is an effort, and tonight this is an effort to change that. Internationally, similar laws have proven effective. They reduce harassment, increase victim confidence and demonstrate that justice systems can be survivor-centred. Ireland should be no different. Minister, these statistics demand urgency. As a proud member of the Voluntary Board of Wexford Women's Refuge and as someone who works closely with Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, I can tell you that the number of people availing of these services is staggering, and I know that both services are beyond capacity, with amazing staff put to the pin of their collar to work and deal with the victims. This despite both services moving into fabulous new build facilities over the past few years. And in that move, Wexford Women's Refuge tripled its capacity, and they already need more beds to service the demand in the Wexford area. The crisis centre are themselves in crisis, trying to meet the demands on their services, with one new case every day coming into their services in Wexford alone. The need is beyond great. So, passing this bill is not just a legislative act, it is a moral imperative. It says to the survivors, we hear you, we believe you, and we will protect you. This bill, I believe, is more than law, it is about humanity. It is about ensuring that justice does not end at the courtroom door. It's about giving survivors the peace they deserve, and reaffirming our commitments to a society where violence is met with accountability and compassion. It's essential that we all in this House support this bill, that we stand together for justice, for safety, and for the dignity of every person who has suffered the unimaginable. So, passing this legislation will not erase the pain of the past, but it will help build a future where victims are protected, perpetrators are held accountable, and our communities are stronger and safer. And can I also say, Minister, that we should lead from the front on this as well, as public representatives and as parties. And we should have a zero tolerance as public representatives of parties, to perpetrators of domestic violence, of sexual violence, of all violence against any gender. If I fill in my ethics form at the end of the year, or my returns, and if I have an acre of land, or I have a house, I have to put it down. But if I have a barring order against me, a protection order, a safety order, I don't have to mention it. It's ludicrous to think that in the context of ethics, that we are not leading from the front, and I urge you to consider this also in the context of this legislation.