Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy. Among the actions being considered by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is the provision of free legal aid for victims of alleged domestic abuse. That is one of the things he is considering and prioritising in his budget. It is not a decision I will make personally, but four of the Ministers who are involved in our struggle against the heinous crime that is domestic violence will have to consider what the priorities are. I understand a real priority for the Minister for Justice and Equality is providing free legal aid for individuals who are victims of domestic violence. Deputy Catherine Connolly would also like us to prioritise the allocation of €1 million for further research and studies. I am not ruling that out by any means; I am just saying that no matter what budget one has, one has to prioritise within it.

In terms of the communications function within my Department, as I explained on many occasions, it is cost neutral. My Department is one of the few that had its budget cut for 2018 because we will meet the cost entirely from reductions in spending in other areas within the Department. If the Deputy read the Irish Independenttoday, she will have seen the effect the unit has already had in getting the message out and warning people about Hurricane Ophelia. Communications are not a waste of time. It may cost money, but it can also save money and good communications can also save lives. Good communications on domestic violence can also save lives; therefore, I do not think it is something that should be dismissed in the way it has been.

I have explained on a number of occasions that my approach to Cabinet committees is different from that of the former Taoiseach. He took a view that if there was an important issue, one of the first actions should be to set up a new committee. As a result we had 20 or more Cabinet sub-committees.

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