Ms Rita Harling:

In Manhattan there is a division that deals totally with domestic violence issues and all its personnel are specifically trained in that area. Gardaí are dragged from pillar to post and are not trained. Perhaps one or two gardaí in a certain division have received training about domestic violence but not them all. In many cases women who are victims of domestic violence do not want to speak to a man even though he is a member of the Garda Síochána. Perhaps women in a certain division of local police stations could be trained in some way to deal with specifics. Garda stations have referred people to my organisation and we go through the emotional stuff with those people. We can direct them towards Dolphin House, provide court accompaniment and all that type of thing. Gardaí have come to us because they do not know what steps to take. There is not enough training and there are too many-----