THE ISPCC has welcomed the Domestic Violence Act, which comes into force today, particularly its provisions allowing health boards to seek court orders to protect minors and the new Garda powers of entry and arrest where domestic violence is suspected.
However, the society regretted that the Act would still permit parents to hit children in the name of "reasonable chastisement". It also criticised the absence of any provision allowing children, or a person acting on their behalf, to invoke the civil law in their own protection.