Press release

Minister Jim O’Callaghan publishes report detailing progress made in combatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence

• From: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
• Published on: 31 March 2026

• Last updated on: 31 March 2026

• Report on the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Third National Strategy launched during national forum on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence

• Minister O’Callaghan welcomes measurable progress in access to justice, safe accommodation provision, and legislative reform

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has published the progress report on the implementation of the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for 2025.

The report highlights developments across key priority areas, including improving access to justice, advancing the National Emergency Domestic Violence Accommodation Plan, and progressing legislative reform for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).

The Third National Strategy, Zero Tolerance, is an ambitious and comprehensive programme of work, delivered through a whole-of-government approach, in close collaboration with civil society and the DSGBV sector, and co-ordinated by Cuan, the DSGBV Agency.

Minister O’Callaghan said,

“I believe the progress detailed in this report reflects the sustained commitment of Government Departments, statutory agencies, and external stakeholders to embed a coordinated, survivor-centred response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across policy, legislation, service delivery, and public engagement.

“It is a necessarily ambitious programme of work, and it is extremely welcome to see the progress in areas such as safe accommodation provision, piloting of the Children's Court Advocate project in the family courts, and developing an operational framework to introduce Operation Encompass in this jurisdiction, among others.

“While delivery of the strategy’s objectives requires sustained effort over time, and significant work remains to ensure all victim-survivors are protected, supported, and able to access justice, this report demonstrates the measurable progress achieved in 2025.

“As we move into the final phase of the Zero Tolerance Strategy, our focus will be on consolidating progress, strengthening implementation efforts, and supporting the transition to the next phase, including the development of the Fourth National Strategy, as we collaborate towards an Ireland that is free from this unacceptable scourge.”

The Minister launched the progress report in Dublin today while hosting a national forum on DSGBV, bringing together key stakeholders, including representatives from across the sector, to further advance Government’s commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to DSGBV.

The report – the first issued on an annual basis - outlines the key actions undertaken by implementing partners across Government since the publication of the previous biannual progress report, which covered July-December 2024.

Minister O’Callaghan added,

“When I published the 2025–2026 Zero Tolerance Implementation Plan, I highlighted several key areas of legislative reform that I was committed to pursuing.

“This includes the removal of guardianship of a child from those convicted of killing their intimate partner or ex partner, and drafting is now at an advanced stage.

“I highlighted work to introduce of a provision for those who have been convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner to be publicly named on a Register of Judgments. That is also progressing, with pre-legislative scrutiny taking place in January and drafting ongoing.

“Progress on these and other reforms is detailed in the report and will be a priority in this final phase of the Zero Tolerance Strategy.”

Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, said,

“Ending DSGBV requires intensive, coordinated, and collective effort across Government, statutory agencies, frontline services, civil society, and communities, and supporting this whole-of-government and society action is at the core of Cuan’s mandate.

“Throughout 2025, Cuan worked actively with 22 delivery partners, supporting them to deliver on commitments across the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Policy Coordination. This saw progress and cross-sectoral action across a range of spheres, including services, justice, social care, health and education.

“We are particularly pleased to spotlight in this report the work of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to implement the Barnahus model in Ireland, the leading model of child-friendly multidisciplinary response to child sexual abuse. This is a crucial step towards delivering on the Zero Tolerance Strategy’s protection pillar, which aims to ensure that victim‑survivors have immediate and longer-term access to the safety, support, and advocacy they need, with due regard to their diversity.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and our partners across Government, civil society, and the DSGBV sector for the continued commitment and collaboration during this period. I would also like to acknowledge the victim-survivors who come forward to share their experience with Cuan and inform the Government response to DSGBV. Your voices remain central to our work and to our shared ambition of an Ireland where there is zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”

The 2025 progress report on the implementation of Zero Tolerance is available here.

You can view Minister O’Callaghan’s speech at the DGBSV Forum here.

ENDS…///

Jim O'Callaghan Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe CEO, Cuan, Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency