| Tánaiste Michael McDowell has published the outline of new legislation that will change the rules on the force people can use to protect their life and property from intruders. |
The Criminal Law (Defence of Life and Property) Bill will remove the requirement on occupiers to retreat in the face of a criminal trespasser before using force. |
| Mr McDowell said he believed that an attack in the home has unique characteristics given the emotive nature of an encounter between the occupant and an unwelcome intruder, as it is the place where everyone has a right to consider a place of safety. |
| The Minister for Justice said the bill would take into account elements of a Private Members Bill introduced in the Seanad by Progressive Democrat Senator Tom Morrissey. |
| Similar proposals were put forward by Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe, but the Government voted not to proceed with them in the Dáil until it had considered its own alternative legislation. |