The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has unveiled the final implementation plan for the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV), known as Zero Tolerance. This comprehensive plan outlines 95 specific actions under the four main pillars of Protection, Prevention, Prosecution, and Policy Co-ordination, aiming to drive collective government efforts through to 2026.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:“This final implementation plan for the Third National Strategy draws directly from insights gained through ongoing monitoring and progress reporting by Cuan. It provides a focused roadmap to deliver on the whole-of-government commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to DSGBV.This is a plan focused on delivery, accountability and ensuring that we continue the momentum and focus on this issue. I am committed to building on what has already been achieved, and to strengthening implementation and identifying the actions we need to take now and where we need to go next to prepare a clear pathway toward the Fourth National Strategy.”
Developed collaboratively by the DSGBV Agency Cuan alongside the Department of Justice and other government departments, state agencies, and stakeholders, the plan sets a clear focus on delivery and accountability. Key priorities include maintaining national leadership and cross-government coordination, expanding refuge accommodation, rolling out a national emergency domestic violence accommodation plan, and progressing legislative reforms. These reforms notably include removing guardianship rights from individuals convicted of killing their intimate partner, creating a system to inform partners of a history of domestic violence, and ensuring counselling records are only disclosed when courts find them relevant to legal proceedings.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasised the government’s commitment, stating: “The government is delivering on the commitments in the Zero Tolerance Strategy to achieve a society where sexual violence, and the toxic attitudes that fuel it, are not accepted. Under the Strategy we’ve already introduced a range of legal reforms to help achieve this and other legislative measures that I am progressing will deliver a clear message that sexual abuse and sexual violence will not be tolerated, that survivors will be supported and perpetrators will be held accountable.”
The plan also prioritises impactful awareness campaigns on sexual consent and safety pathways, alongside extensive training programmes to enhance the skills of frontline professionals in health, social care, justice, and DSGBV services.
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, highlighted the importance of implementation and impact measurement: “This final phase shows how seriously we take implementation. The new framework gives us a clearer line of sight on what’s being delivered, what impact it’s having, and where greater focus is needed. However, this is not just about measuring activity – it’s also about assessing real impact, understanding the challenges in implementing a strategy with over 20 partner organisations and continuously improving our collective response. The inclusion of survivor perspectives is a key strength of this approach.”
Alongside the plan, the second 2024 Progress Report covering July to December 2024 was published, showcasing significant advancements such as the opening of a new refuge facility in Wexford, reforms to the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, increased funding for services supporting children and young people affected by domestic or sexual violence, and the enactment of the Family Courts Act 2024, which establishes specialised family court divisions.
Additional highlights include the ongoing Game Changer campaign led by Ruhama in partnership with the GAA and Men’s Development Network to raise awareness of gender-based violence through sports advocacy, the convening of a National Consent Forum, and collaboration with the Central Statistics Office to develop a Domestic Violence survey set to launch in 2025.
This final implementation plan marks a decisive step in Ireland’s commitment to eradicating domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach to protect survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
