Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will contact the Minister of State's office. I am definitely aware of cases where there is undue delay in the provision of legal services to victims of domestic violence by the Legal Aid Board. I must emphasise the issue of domestic violence. SAFE Ireland published a report on Monday that stated that the legal system in Ireland often regards domestic violence as a nuisance rather than a crime. If a criminal turns up at court, they will immediately have access to a junior or senior counsel if they do not have the ability to pay. I can assure the Minister of State that many women who have presented to me in my constituency office have not received immediate legal aid or junior or senior counsel. In many cases, rape, assault and battery within a relationship are not being treated as criminal offences. Even when the gardaí call to some homes where domestic violence has taken place, it is dismissed and rubbished and the woman is told to get over it or that it is not that bad.

I urge the Minister of State to look at the report and recommendations of SAFE Ireland. I can assure him that I have met mothers who have been beaten and raped. I know one woman who was slashed across her face, and received something like 50 to 60 stitches, in front of her young son. This is not acceptable. It is clear that not only do delays need to be addressed, the system needs to offer real support to women suffering domestic violence. The CEO of SAFE Ireland, Sharon O' Halloran, said that women are being worn down by the system rather than supported by it.

See this speech in context