Ms Maire Mulcahy:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to present to it. ICTU's women's committee comprises representatives of 47 affiliates, with a combined membership of more than 778,000 people, some 52% of ICTU's membership.

One of ICTU's fundamental values is the right of every citizen to live and work without fear and intimidation. Our summary document, which we forwarded last week, opened with an inventory of horror. We have been encouraged not to repeat the data, which are available, but three or four points merit repetition - 14,792 is the number of incidents of domestic violence disclosed to the Women's Aid national freefone service in 2012; 194 is the number of women murdered in the Republic since 1996, 119 of whom were killed in their own homes and, of the 142 murder cases where the perpetrators were noted, 75 women or 53% were killed by a partner or ex-partner; 7,797 is the number of women who received support from domestic violence services, an increase of 3.5% since 2010; 3,066 is the number of children who received support; and 322 is the shortfall in refuge places using the Council Of Europe's recommended ratio of one refuge to 10,000 people, given the fact that Ireland has only 136 refuges.

In this context, ICTU has made recommendations concerning what needs to be done in the workplace, in law and in State policy and services. We advocate an employer-union policy statement that has clear aims and commits the organisation to treat domestic abuse seriously. A statement from an employer is a powerful message. Such a policy could include a recognition that the health of the employee is the employer's paramount concern. It could also include training for HR or employee welfare staff. It should identify detailed support services and could provide time off as necessary for employees to avail of and organise medical assistance, legal advice and rehousing arrangements, extended paid leave and job security for employees attempting to escape domestic abuse and offer the possibility of a transfer where applicable and appropriate. The policy would also involve the creation of employee assistance schemes that named and identified domestic and sexual violence as matters that fall within their remit and effective policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.

We call on the relevant Departments to invest in and develop comprehensive education programmes that increase young people's understanding of the effects of violence and how it undermines gender equality and human dignity. Programmes should be developed to encourage men and boys to become active and strategic partners and allies in the prevention and elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. There should be an increase in funding from Cosc to extend the worthwhile White Ribbon and Man-Up campaigns with which we have worked. HSE funding should be maintained for the Men Ending Domestic Violence, MEND, initiative, which includes some rehabilitative work with perpetrators. The Government should also legislate as per the recommendation of the Oireachtas committee to criminalise the purchase of sex.