Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not expect the Minister to be an expert on these matters but I do expect him to take on board the concerns I have highlighted. That so many Deputies and leaders of the various political groupings have raised this matter consistently shows there is clearly a problem. We are learning about that problem from the experts working in the area. I welcome the indication that the Government is in consultation with those experts but, at this point, there must be a clear admission that a SAVI-type report is absolutely necessary, more than 15 years since the last such report, so that we can develop policy and proper legislation to deal with the problem. The SAVI researchers spoke to both men and women and its findings are absolutely frightening, with 47% of the 3,200 or so persons who participated confirming they had never mentioned the abuse they experienced to anybody in their lives. I do not have time to go into the other statistics. The only obstacle to carrying out new research is money. When we have a Government that puts €4 million or €5 million into a propaganda unit, it is hard to take the Tánaiste seriously when she says another SAVI report is necessary, if she can find the money to do it. I would like to hear a deadline for action today.

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