Senators are set to discuss changing the law to make stalking a standalone criminal defence.
The Fianna Fáil Bill, which could be enacted within weeks, would see a person convicted of stalking face up to 10 years in prison.
The party says current laws on harassment do not adequately protect women.
Our meeting yesterday with @lichamber and @HMcEntee to discuss implementing stalking legislation in Ireland. We are looking forward to working with the minister on this issue. @unaring4 @evemcdowell_ pic.twitter.com/UtXwQTG6Hi
— Stalking Ireland (@Stalking_ie) January 26, 2022
Ireland has a common law system which is the same as that of the UK and America and different to civil legal systems common in most of mainland Europe.
Senator Lisa Chambers, who has introduced the Bill, says other countries have already made stalking an offence.
Chambers said ''we are behind the curve in terms of criminalising stalking'', she mentioned that Scotland, England and Wales had criminalised stalking over a decade ago.
Stalking is defined in common law terms as the act or crime of willfully and repeatedly following or harassing another person in circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or death especially because of express or implied threats.
Currently stalking isn't a named crime in Ireland.
