Final bill necessary to ratify Istanbul Convention reaches third stage in Seanad

Charlie Flanagan

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan thanked Senators for the “warm welcome” for the final piece of legislation required to allow Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.

The Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Bill 2018 will allow for individuals who commit particular offences abroad will be liable to be prosecuted under Irish law.

These include offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as well as murder and manslaughter.

Speaking after second stage, Mr Flanagan said: “This Bill is significant for two main reasons. It is the last piece of the legislative jigsaw required to enable Ireland to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The majority of the actions necessary are contained in the Domestic Violence Act which passed earlier this year.

“Secondly, this legislation, when enacted, will enable Ireland to prosecute violent crimes committed abroad by Irish citizens and residents in certain states. It is anticipated that this power will be rarely invoked but it is an important fall back mechanism for countries that have ratified the Convention.”

The Department of Justice said that while the Convention is “primarily concerned about violence against women, for equality reasons Ireland has included in the legislation measures to address violence against men”.