A FIANNA Fail bill to give victims of domestic violence paid work leave will come before the Dail by Christmas, a TD has revealed.

Kildare TD Fiona O’Loughlin said that the new legislation would support victims of abuse who are looking to move on from a violent relationship.

Earlier this month, Atilia Kerekes received a two-year suspended sentence despite pleading guilty to hitting his wife, dragging her upstairs and removing her jeans.

Speaking to the Irish Sun on Sunday, O’Loughlin said: “We need to have a better conversation in this country about domestic violence.

“So few of these incidents are actually reported and we need to face up to this and put supports in place.

“The aim of the bill is to attempt to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by domestic violence victims when they decide to move on from a violent relationship.

“This affects both men and women, but research shows that it takes eight attempts for women to leave the home before being able to do it because economically it can be very difficult.

“Speaking to a number of women, they told how they had to take time and unpaid leave from work — which can be difficult during a time when they may be struggling to bring up a family.

“Allowing victims leave enables them to put in place practical measures to get out of an abusive relationship such as moving house, settling children in a new school or seeking court approval for a barring, safety or protection order.”

The proposed legislation will be similar to laws recently introduced in New Zealand which extended paid leave to victims of domestic violence. In July, New Zealand became the second nation to pass such a measure, following on from the Philippines.

O’Loughlin said the payment would work in a similar way to sick leave.

She added: “We don’t see this as being a huge cost to the State — but it is best to give the comfort that if a woman, or indeed a man, needs to take time off for court or to go to the Gardai that they are not going to lose income for doing so.”

In 2017, 15,833 disclosures of domestic violence against women were recorded by Women’s Aid, while men’s support charity Amen indicated that in 2016, 5,196 disclosures of domestic abuse were made by males.

Fianna Fail Senator Catherine Ardagh also championed the proposed new law.

She said too often lip service is paid to the problem without any action being implemented.