The Government has been criticised for delaying the introduction of a Social Democrats bill which seeks to establish a free travel scheme for victims of domestic violence.
The legislation was tabled tonight by the first-term Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson and backed by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Women's Aid and Safe Ireland.
Senator Stephenson told the Seanad tonight that the free travel pass would be valid for three months from the day it was issued, but renewable for another three months in exceptional circumstances.
She said it was an urgent but practical measure that would assist women fleeing domestic violence in the home, by providing them with financial support to ensure that children can go to school as well as make medical appointments.
The bill was backed by Sinn Féin, Labour, the Greens and Independent Lynne Ruane who said the Government amendment to delay the bills introduction for 12 months was not necessary as, if it progressed to committee stage, any issues raised by the Department of Social Protection could be dealt with.
Defending to so-called "time amendment", which would delay the bill's progress, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary told the Seanad that he was "not in the business of long fingering" such priority legislation and there was already a "work plan" to advance the proposal.
"So it’s not a delay", he told the Seanad. The minister said the legislation is "a priority" but he needed to ensure that it could be implemented rapidly when being "integrated into wider policy".
He said the Government was not opposing the bill, but the 12-month delay was the "best solution" at this particular time.
The minister said he wanted to "assure Senator Stephenson of my support for the bill", adding that a lot of the outstanding work would be conducted very quickly.
The Social Democrats senator said she respected that the minister had given the issue "a lot of thought" but felt passing the bill to committee stage, rather than delaying it, would still allow the department to conduct any required studies.
She opposed the Government's amendment.
It was put to a vote, which the Government won by 23 votes to 11.
