Stalking and strangulation are to be made standalone offences.
The Minister for Justice says it will form part of the government's zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
The laws will allow the courts to issue orders restraining stalking without a criminal prosecution and will provide greater protection for alleged victims during the court process.
Under the draft legislation, an offence of non-fatal strangulation will also be introduced.
The law will explicitly cite stalking as a criminal and penaliseable offence and make it clear that impersonating the victim, and then communicating with a third party, (used commonly on dating apps and social media) is illegal.
Discussing this in January during a debate on violence against women, Ms McEntee said: “While choking and strangling are already illegal, creating a new, standalone offence should encourage victims to come forward and report what has happened to them.''
This behaviour has been referenced as a risk behaviour for further and future acts of violence against women, said McEntee.
