Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

They were fine words, but at the same time the Taoiseach has cut funding for Women's Aid by 20%. Women are now in more danger since he came to power than they were before because of the housing crisis, in particular.

There are more women who cannot get into refuges and have nowhere to go. Following the recent horrific murder-suicide of an entire family, a woman's memory was completely obliterated by the media. That is the position on male violence against women. One of the features of the "Prime Time" programme was that young women were in severe danger in relationships also. Approximately 60% of abuse starts before the age of 25 years. We are in the ha'penny place when it comes to things like stalking legislation. New revenge porn weapons and tools are being used by men to control or abuse women. The macho culture that objectifies and abuses women is continuing unabated. This Friday women will gather on the Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin at 1 p.m. and St. Patrick's Bridge in Cork at 5 p.m. to protest against violence against women and the ongoing eighth amendment. Women in 30 countries will take part in similar protests. Women are becoming politicised and radicalised and will not put up with this like they might have had to do in the past.

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