Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. The Government needs to fulfil our obligations in respect of the Istanbul Convention and the State's strategy for eliminating the epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Earlier this year, the National Women's Council published its report, prepared in conjunction with the Department of Justice, into domestic and sexual violence in particular. It looked at the intersection of the criminal justice system, private family law, public law, and childcare processes. The report laid bare the difficult and often traumatic experiences of women, children and some men in accessing justice. It exposed a system that is ill-suited to address the needs of those who are already managing the physical and emotional impact of violence on both mind and body. Indeed, the report makes clear the shortcomings in the current system are such that the system often retraumatises and re-victimises.

I want to put on the record a grave concern we have regarding where the Bill might fall short and the agency might have difficulty. We are particularly concerned about the situation at the Ombudsman for Children's Office. Its 2022 report stated that the Government's two previous plans paid insufficient attention to children affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse. The ombudsman called on the Government to adequately fund this in its third plan yet no new funding has been provided. We are deeply concerned that the Government has failed to do this. Once again, that will undermine the plan because while the Ombudsman for Children's Office is listed within the plan to act as a monitor of the actions around children in particular, it has always made clear to the Department of Justice that such a role was entirely reliant on the Department funding the positions required to fulfil this. Unfortunately, over two and a half years of negotiations and two budget cycles, that office has not been given any new resources so it has had to write to the Minister to inform her it is withdrawing services. She must now rewrite the action plan without the ombudsman's inclusion. That is a particular concern for us.

The Bill is laudable and a welcome step, but it will be assessed on what it delivers. I welcome any comment the Minister has to make on that issue. I appreciate the time to speak to on this Stage.