Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the past eight weeks, four women have died at the hands of men known to them and nine children have been left motherless as a result. Data published by the relevant European Union agency shows that the incidence of domestic abuse in Ireland is 7% above the European average. A concern highlighted by Women's Aid - and by Justine McCarthy at the weekend - is that the statistics we have from the Garda are unreliable and that domestic violence incidents are not being classified appropriately. According to Garda figures, there were 6,000 incidents in 2016. However, according to Women's Aid, the figure is 20,769, so there is surely something wrong. When should we expect the Domestic Violence Bill to be enacted? Does the Taoiseach feel it goes far enough? Are we examining the discrepancy between the figures?

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