Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. My questions reflect the questions that have already been asked. The figures for gender-based violence are appalling. I was aware that there was a high level of violence against women in Guatemala because my daughter spent some time there and found it a beautiful country with beautiful people. I was quite happy when she left because I was aware of the violence, but I was not aware that it was so appalling. One only sees that level of gender violence in war situations where there is conflict.

It states that 97% of crimes go completely unpunished. That can happen only when there is political support for that to happen. Does the Government lack the will or the ability to enforce the law? Is the Government that weak? Does the Government accept it? Is it a legacy of the war that violence just becomes acceptable? Is there anything we can do as a country or as a member of the European Community to help the women in particular?