Stalking To Become Standalone Offence

Stalking is set to be a standalone criminal offence by the end of the year.

It's after the government yesterday approved plans for the legislation to be drafted.

Under the proposals from Justice Minister Helen McEntee, stalking will carry a jail sentence of up to 10 years. The new laws will also make non-fatal strangulation a standalone offence.

Fianna Fáil senator Lisa Chambers says she expects the Oireachtas to approve the legislation in the coming months;

"The Minister intends to get it through before the summer recess, I'd be confident that's certainly doable, but at the latest we will have it passed by the Autumn, so certainly this year we will have stalking on the statute books."