Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion as it is some time since the House debated this issue. Domestic violence is like a creeping paralysis. One horrendous aspect to domestic violence is the unimaginable case of a woman being abused in any one of ten different ways but, because of her dignity and pride in her family, she would nearly do anything under the rising sun rather than turn in the perpetrator.

As a public representative I have been contacted from time to time on the matter. While the prevalence of domestic violence is much greater in the cities than in rural areas, it happens everywhere. Some victims believe they must put up with it. They are fit for sainthood for the trouble they have gone through to cover up their terrible situations. Our attitude to the perpetrators of domestic violence must change. It is difficult for any Government to get to the bottom of this problem.

Women's Aid and other organisations do Trojan work in this area. The very least that can be done is to ensure adequate resources are available to them. Last year, they received 10,000 telephone calls from victims of domestic violence that they could not answer. The victims must have asked themselves if they were living in a society that cares for them. The answer is they are not.

Over indulgence of alcohol is a base issue in domestic violence. The dignity to which every human being is entitled must be ensured. There are a myriad of ways in how this can be approached. I hope there will be other occasions after this debate when we can return to discuss the more detailed and technical measures that can be put into operation to tackle the issue. Like with drink-driving, the message must be sent out that violence against women in simply not on and the perpetrators must suffer badly for whatever injuries they inflict on helpless women and children.

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