Legislation that would prevent someone who has killed their child's other parent from automatically keeping their guardianship rights, has passed the first stage of the Dáil.
The law would be known as Valerie's Law, in memory of 41-year-old Valerie French, who was murdered by her husband James Kilroy in Co Mayo in June 2019.
The couple have three children. Kilroy was convicted of Ms French's murder in July 2024.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said Ms French's memory and her family's campaign for the legislation has been at the "forefront of the minds of legislators".
Watch: Valerie's memory has been at 'forefront of the minds of legislators' - O'Callaghan
"When you have a human story behind a piece of legislation, or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a very personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas," he said.
"And that certainly has happened in the case of Valerie French and the campaign that was put forward by David (Ms French's brother) and her sisters."
