Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important to note that it is now 16 years since the SAVI report was published. It provided very useful information on the incidence of sexual violence in Ireland at the time. Its findings were very significant and serious. It found that more than four in ten women reported some form of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime, and that over a quarter of men reported some form of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime. The 2002 report had a significant impact in how Government and this House formulated policy in respect of sexual abuse and violence.

I welcome that the Minister has indicated that moneys will be made available for the purpose of compiling and concluding a second SAVI report. However, I should point out that the scoping group that was established under the chairmanship of Professor Dorothy Watson did in fact make a report to the Minister back in April 2018. I note the Minister says that a report will be made to Cabinet in coming weeks but I ask that the matter be expedited as the Minister is correct in saying that we cannot formulate policy unless we have the necessary information to guide us.

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