Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan will seek Cabinet approval tomorrow for the establishment of a Domestic Violence Register.
'Jennie's Law' will allow those convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner, to be publicly named on a Register of Judgments.
The law has been named in honour of Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in 2021.
He attacked and stabbed her to death at her home Melville Drive in Finglas on 17 April and was sentenced to life in prison the following year.
The Domestic Violence Register will be managed by the Courts Service and victims will be required to provide consent before the convicted abuser can be named on the public register.
Jennifer's brother, Jason Poole, has long campaigned for such a register.
Watch: Jennie's law will create a culture where 'people feel protected' - Jason Poole
As a backbench TD, Mr O'Callaghan supported his campaign and has vowed to introduce it since becoming Minister for Justice.
Jennifer Poole was not aware Murphy had a history of abusive behaviour and a conviction for assaulting a former partner.
Under the new legislation convictions will be published online by the Courts Service, under a specific heading of "Domestic Violence Register Judgments".
"This will help people who are in a relationship or considering a relationship with a person to discover whether they have a history of serious domestic violence convictions," according to the Department of Justice.
The information will be presented in a way that is linked "insofar as possible" with domestic violence services, aiming to ensure that anyone consulting the register will be directed towards appropriate supports.
The trial judge will have discretion to issue a judgment in an appropriate case, which will contain details of conviction and sentence, as well as any other information relevant to the offence that the judge deems appropriate.
The Minister has commended Mr Poole and his family for their advocacy and said the legislation providing for a Domestic Violence Register would be in honour of Ms Poole's memory.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Poole said 'Jennie’s Law’ is a massive step forward on the road to changing the culture around domestic violence.
"There's a massive positive here that we are changing the culture of domestic violence by having a register that will be publicly available for victims or potential victims to be able to access, so they know their partner, they know who they're living with.
"Unlike Jennifer's story, where Jennifer didn't know who she was living with and this person had a previous conviction and had done time in prison," Mr Poole said.
"The other side of it as well, I suppose, is that for us as a family, it's a massive step forward," he added.
Minister O'Callaghan said he listened to many of the representations after he initially announced his proposals to bring forward Jennie’s law and had taken on board some of the suggestions
Asked about whether victims could continue to be vulnerable if they have a role in allowing names to be on the register, he said: "I'm providing a statutory mechanism for the court that has determined whether or not a person is guilty of a serious assault of an intimate partner to decide whether or not the details of that person should be publicised."
He said while the administration of justice in Ireland was required to be done in public, it was important that the public was aware of information in respect of criminal convictions. "There are obviously some circumstances where for the anonymity and protection of a complainant, there won't be publication," he said.
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In this instance, he said, he was bringing an additional provision to the courts, which he said would strengthen the position of victims of intimate assaults in the future.
Asked about whether addresses would be published along with names in order to prevent the misidentification of offenders, he said: "This is going to be a process that will be within the publication of the Court Service, so a judge in either the Circuit Criminal Court or the Central Criminal Court will determine whether or not to publish a judgment that will contain details of the information that happens at present in respect of many criminal offences that are dealt with on appeal."
Mr O'Callaghan said what would be different about this law was providing a mechanism and a provision for the courts to decide, after a criminal conviction of first instance, to decide if that information in respect of the person who was convicted of the serious offence is put into the public domain.
At present he said the system was extremely dependent upon the presence of journalists in court in order for this information to get into the public domain.
"If a journalist isn't in court, it won't be reported and it will be forgotten. So it's a mechanism to ensure that justice is administered in public," the minister added.
Chief Executive of the Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service Anne Clarke welcomed Jennie's Law, describing it as a significant hard won step forward for victims of domestic abuse.
She said that it has great potential in preventing others from suffering the same fate as Jennifer Poole.
She added that work will have to be done regarding risk assessment and safety measures being put in place if a victim decides to waive anonymity in the process, as protections need to be built in once someone's perpetrator appears on a register.
She explained that this could trigger violence from that person, and she said that the law needs to be really careful that the responsibility for safety does not sit with the victim and that gardaí or other community wrap around services are in place to keep an eye on the victim to make sure this does nothing to jeopardise someone’s safety.
'Good step forward'
Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin MEP whose partner was convicted earlier this year under Coco's Law said that Jennie's Law was a "good step forward", commending Jason Poole, the brother of Jennifer, and all of the survivors and advocates who have fought long and hard for this.
She said it was significant and will help people and also helps raise awareness of domestic abuse. She added that the law needs to include all forms of abuse, such as coercive control.
She said it is important that there is the opportunity for people to know that the person they are in a relationship with or potentially starting a relationship with have a previous conviction of this nature.
She said she hopes the law moves without delay, so it starts to make a real difference for survivors or those in this situation, and gives hope to people currently in those type of relationships that often feel alone and isolated.
She said it is not easy to start the process by walking into the garda station and it is a long process so it is key to make sure this law does not put anyone off reporting.
She added that gardaí need to be resourced and domestic violence services need to be better funded to help with the introduction of this law.
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