Alcohol Action Ireland press release, Monday, 19 January 2026
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, along with a representative from its initiative Silent Voices, will tomorrow appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny of a General Scheme: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025, to brief the committee on why Operation Encompass is needed in Ireland.
Operation Encompass is a programme designed to support children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. It would facilitate an early information sharing partnership between Gardai and schools, enabling schools and teachers to offer immediate intervention and support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. The scheme has been implemented in the UK since 2010 and was rolled out across all 1,162 schools in Northern Ireland in May 2023, with more than 23,000 referrals being made in the first 12 months, underlining the scale of the issue.
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “AAI very much welcomes the proposed legislation which would provide the statutory basis to allow for the introduction of an early intervention support mechanism for children impacted by domestic violence. AAI, through its Silent Voices initiative, has been advocating for Operation Encompass since 2020. This programme would ensure that if police attend a family home because of domestic violence that they will have informed the child’s school before commencement of the following school day so that the child can be offered immediate support. Children spend most of their time in school and so this is the obvious place for such a programme.
“Domestic violence is unfortunately only too common here with research from Women’s Aid indicating that one in four women who have been in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner. European data demonstrates that three quarters of women who have been victims of domestic violence indicate that children living with them were aware of the violence, while UK research suggests that one in five children have experienced domestic violence.
“Experiencing domestic violence as a child is child abuse, a child protection issue, and a child welfare issue. Unfortunately, in Ireland, children are generally the unseen victims of domestic abuse, even though they are victims in their own right. AAI welcomes that the Dept of Justice’s third strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence now recognises this impact and has committed to the introduction of Operation Encompass in schools. This position is strongly supported by multiple children’s groups including Barnados, the Children’s Ombudsman, the Children Rights Alliance and the ISPCC as well as many domestic violence bodies.”
The consistent link between alcohol and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) has led to the recognition of alcohol as a risk factor for intimate partner violence by the World Health Organisation. A third of children in Ireland are living with a parent who regularly binge drinks or is dependent on alcohol and in many incidences, alcohol use is the catalyst to significant domestic disruption and abuse.
Dr Gilheany continued: “The starting point for any conversation regarding alcohol and DSGBV is to state unequivocally that alcohol is not, and never will be, an excuse or explanation for DSGBV. Many people consume alcohol and do not perpetrate violence against their partner or children, and not all who perpetrate domestic violence use alcohol. Unfortunately, what we do know is that alcohol acts as a commercial accelerant of violence and research shows that, in incidences of DSGBV, it appears the role of alcohol is one of a facilitative nature, a contributing factor.
“The impact of problem alcohol use on the family is extensive. Growing up in a home where there is parental problem alcohol use has been recognised internationally as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) for over 25 years, and there are often long-lasting psychological impacts and distresses that can carry into adulthood and last a lifetime.
“We also know that parental problem alcohol use is a well-known gateway to other adverse childhood experiences including domestic violence and sexual abuse, with estimates of alcohol being a factor in up to 70% of domestic violence incidents in Ireland. It is imperative, therefore, that the impact of domestic abuse, and indeed alcohol harm in the home, is addressed by the State and it is vitally important that children and young people who are experiencing domestic violence are supported early to navigate the chaos that these experiences bring to their lives.
“Much appreciation must go to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, officials from the Department of Justice and Department of Education and Cuan for their work on this. It is great to see inter-departmental cooperation to bring about such an important measure to support children. The move also underlines the need for better trauma-informed education in our schools, which must be resourced in a way that doesn’t impact teachers’ protected time to upskill.
“Having Operation Encompass operating in Ireland would go a long way to addressing the substantial harm caused to children living with domestic abuse during these vital developmental stages of their lives. Their lives and futures must matter. Early intervention is key and getting these at-risk children on the radar of a responsible adult is the first action required to mitigate this harm.”
ENDS
