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SEVERAL PIECES OF legislation have been approved which the government says will strengthen protections for women and children.
The new legislation to pass all stages in the Oireachtas includes Jennie’s Law, Valerie’s Law, the criminalisation of ‘sex for rent’, and legislation that will restrict disclosure of counselling notes in criminal trials to the maximum extent possible.
The new laws will shortly be signed into law by President Catherine Connolly.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan remarked that “recent tragic events have once again brought the reprehensible scourge of violence against women sharply into public focus”.
He said he is “steadfast” in his “determination as Minister to confront domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms and the new laws passed this evening stand as a testament to that”.
Jennie’s Law will allow those convicted of domestic violence against a current or former partner to be publicly named on a register.
These offences include murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm, threats to kill or cause serious harm, harassment and false imprisonment.
The domestic violence judgements register will be hosted on the website of the Courts Service.
Survivors will be required to provide consent before the convicted person can be named on the register.
O’Callaghan said the register will help those who are in a relationship or considering a relationship with a person to ascertain whether they have a history of serious domestic violence convictions.
Jennie’s Law is named after Jennifer Poole. The 24-year-old mother of two was murdered by her ex-partner, 30-year-old Gavin Murphy, in 2021.
Murphy had a previous conviction for assaulting a former partner and had a history of abusive behaviour. Jennifer was not aware of this.
O’Callaghan said the Poole family, and particularly Jennie’s brother Jason, deserve enormous credit for their advocacy on this issue.
Valerie’s Law will provide for the removal of guardianship rights from people convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child.
This ensures that those convicted of the most serious crimes do not retain automatic legal rights over the children left behind.
The law is named after Valerie French, a mother of three who was killed by her husband James Kilroy.
The body of the mother of three was found at her home in Kilbree Lower, near Islandeady, Co Mayo on 14 June 2019.
Her brother, David French, has campaigned tirelessly for a change to the law in memory of his sister Valerie.
O’Callaghan remarked that “guardianship when one parent kills another should not be regarded as a matter of private law to be determined between the families concerned – it must be regarded as a child protection and welfare issue”.
He said the legislative change is about putting the best interests of the child at the centre of the court’s decision.
“It will protect vulnerable children from further trauma, provide clarity for surviving family members and prevent perpetrators from maintaining control over their children’s lives.”
Two specific criminal offences will be introduced around ‘sex for rent’: offering accommodation in exchange for sexual activity, and the advertising of accommodation in exchange for sexual activity.
Labour senator Laura Harmon first introduced legislation on this issue in early 2025.
She said the legislation is a “significant step forward for vulnerable people and tenants in Ireland”.
However, she added that it is “inconceivable that this practice did not have its own statutory provision until now”.
She noted that research by the Irish Council for International Students found that 5% of female international students had either been offered accommodation in exchange for sex or had seen a room advertised on that basis.
“Those who seek to exploit people in precarious housing situations must now be held to account,” said Harmon.
“Predatory behaviour of this kind must be stamped out,” said Harmon.
She added: “We must ensure our legislation keeps pace with the risks people face as a result of housing insecurity.”
Elsewhere, amendments were passed that will restrict disclosure of counselling notes in criminal trials to the maximum extent possible, while ensuring judges have independent oversight in all cases.
O’Callaghan said “strong protections must apply to the handling of victims’ counselling notes in criminal trials”.
The default position will now be that counselling notes will not be disclosed, save for the cases where disclosure is ordered by a judge and warranted in the interest of justice and a fair trial.
O’Callaghan said this will create a “form of statutory privilege whereby counselling notes are not disclosable unless there is a risk of an unfair trial”.
This same protection is already applied to other victims’ records containing sensitive personal data, such as medical records, child protection records and other such documents.
Meanwhile, O’Callaghan remarked that a “complete ban on counselling notes would be unconstitutional as advised by the Attorney General” and would “risk convictions or lead to mistrials”.
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