Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Eight months ago, thousands of people took to the streets following the Belfast so-called rugby rape trial. We protested the treatment of the young woman involved at her clothing being passed around the jury. This week, another young woman suffered humiliation during a rape trial in Cork. We cannot comment on the verdict in the case but we need to focus on the lessons. Why has nothing yet been done to stop the routine use of rape myths in trials? How concerned is the Government about the chilling effect this is having on victims coming forward? A barrister told the jury to "look at the way she was dressed", that she was "open to meeting someone" because she was "wearing a thong with a lace front". A 17 year old was put in the dock for her choice of underwear. She was "open to meeting someone": the implication was that she was asking for it.

Women in this country are getting a little bit weary of the routine victim-blaming in Irish courts and the failure of lawmakers in this House to do anything about it. Either the Judiciary believes these rape myths, in which case they should be forced to undergo education - it should not be voluntary - or they are being used to introduce sexist stereotypes which they know exist in society and among juries. I suspect the latter. Recently we have seen clothes, fake tan and even contraception being used to discredit women who have the bravery to go to court. The most recent study by the Rape Crisis Network estimated that, at best, 10% of rapes are ever reported and only one in 40 rapes is appropriately punished. How heroic and what levels of fortitude must one have to pursue a rape trial in this country, particularly when research shows there is less chance of the accused being convicted if the complainant is young, knew the rapist, had consumed any alcohol or drugs or is from a working-class background and up against a well-paid lawyer?

We do not have data in this country because of the lack of funding for an updated Sexual Assault and Violence in Ireland, SAVI, report, but the Trades Union Congress, TUC, in Britain found that 63% of 18 to 24 year olds have experienced sexual harassment at work, as have 69% of hospitality workers and 67% of manual workers. Last week, Google workers effectively took strike action protesting sexual harassment and inequality even though they do not have a union. The #MeToo campaign has to be taken into the workplace and into society. Women and men see the necessity of taking action because they cannot wait for the pace of change being offered by this Parliament. Protests against the conduct of the trial will take place in five cities, including rallies at the Spire in Dublin and on St. Patrick's Street in Cork at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

It might seem embarrassing to show a thong here in this incongruous setting of the Dáil, but the reason I am doing it is, how do you think a rape victim or a woman feels at her underwear being shown in the incongruous setting of a courtroom? When will this Dáil take serious action on the issue of sexual violence?

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