Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is the third time in three months that I have used my slot on Leaders' Questions to raise the urgent need for a Sexual Assault and Violence in Ireland, SAVI, report. I raised it in June or July and I raised it again in October. Such is the seriousness and significance of the issue that it has been raised by many Deputies on Leaders' Questions, including Deputies McDonald, Coppinger and Shortall, as well as a number of parliamentary questions tabled by Deputies, including Deputies Ó Laoghaire and Rabbitte. Almost every political grouping in the Dáil has asked for a second SAVI report. Deputy Martin launched the original SAVI report when he was Minister for Health and Children in 2002. One of the essential recommendations in that report is that there would be follow-up research. The Tánaiste's positive work on the ground has been recognised by the organisations. In September 2016, which is more than a year ago, she confirmed to Deputy Coppinger that she had an open mind on commissioning a second report. She said, "If the money can be found, I will ensure it is done." It also seems that the Ministers, Deputies Zappone and Regina Doherty - and I am sure all female Fine Gael Deputies - are behind it, yet 15 and a half years later, there has not been a second SAVI report. One has to ask why. It seems the responses from the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice and Equality provide a clue. It was welcome that the Taoiseach confirmed he had an open mind about a second SAVI report. He went on to give other responses. He said the existing statistical evidence was perhaps sufficient while ignoring the limitations of that European research. It is limited to women only, which is a very small group of people. There are many other deficits in that research. The Taoiseach referred to Garda reports which, we all know, cannot be relied on. He referred to existing organisations coming up with information.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland announced on 19 October this year that it was not in a position to publish statistics on its clients' experiences of sexual violence, because it no longer has the capacity to do so. I am asking the Government to listen to the majority of parties in this Dáil, who are asking that another Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland report be carried out. The problem here is the failure on the part of the Department of Justice and Equality to understand what is required. Shortly after the Minister indicated that he had an open mind on the matter, his Department, according to reports in the newspapers, said that no new report would be undertaken. There is a fundamental failure to recognise that the SAVI reports amounted to a qualitative job of research that was absolutely necessary to be undertaken and that it is necessary now to follow up that work in order to inform debate on the types of services we provide.

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