Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This problem could be sorted by the provision of €2.8 million. The Taoiseach's reply did not deal with the anguish, torment and mental desperation of women who have been raped and then have to sit in their own clothes from Friday or Saturday night until Sunday evening because no doctors are available. That would not have happened when the Taoiseach was the financial director of the Mater Hospital. He would have made sure there was a doctor on duty. The report published in June found there is no unit in the west or the midlands, that the unit in Letterkenny is closed and that the unit in Cork does not operate effectively. The remaining units are those in Waterford and Dublin. I have been informed by the Rape Crisis Centre that the weekend before last, a garda drove a woman who had been raped and sexually assaulted around in a squad car because there was no unit to go to. It is absolutely appalling that something like that should happen in 2006. The Government intends to spend €54 billion next year, but it cannot provide €2.8 million to sort out our sexual assault treatment units. People who perpetrate crimes of this nature — rapists — should be subject to the process of the law and should be put where they belong, which is behind bars. It is perfectly obvious that nobody is being arrested because the number of convictions has decreased seriously. It seems that just 5% of reported rapes go to court.

I would like the Taoiseach to answer some questions. The provision of €2.8 million would sort this out. This should be a matter of political priority for everybody in this House and outside it. It is not as if there is no campaign in this regard. However, there is no understanding of the mental anguish, torment and desperation that women have to suffer, weekend after weekend, in this city and elsewhere. I would like the Taoiseach to respond to me by saying the Government will provide the approximately €3 million that is needed to sort out this problem and to put it aside. The unfortunate victims of sexual assault and rape should be able to go to units of this nature to clean themselves, or be cleaned, after the evidence that needs to be taken has been taken. Those who perpetrate these awful crimes should be subject to the process of the law and put behind bars.

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