Bill to remove parental rights of killers based on good evidence

Sir, – Like Ellen O’Malley Dunlop (Letters, February 4th) I was very surprised to read about Tusla’s objection to the proposed legislation on Valerie’s Law.

The Department of Justice is to be congratulated on the excellent and detailed research that it conducted on this topic as can be read on its Policy and Legislative Briefing Paper: Guardianship and Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025. It includes references to earlier commissioned research and reports, including the report Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence in Ireland. This work preceded the legislation, which is what is required in evidence-led policy formation.

However, the implementation of these new regulations will need agency support – so may need to be allocated to a more specific agency, such as Cuan? – Yours, etc,

Dr EVELYN MAHON (fellow emerita)