Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an important issue but, as a previous speaker has said, it is unfortunate that statements such as this tend to be used almost as fillers at the end of the day or on occasions in the Dáil that are not conducive to maximum attendance for various reasons. When commencing the debate, the Minister was very self-congratulatory about the work the Government has done, citing the ratification of the Istanbul Convention earlier this year. The convention was ratified by the Council of Europe in 2011. It took us until 2015 to sign it and a further four years for it to be ratified. It is one thing to ratify a convention but it is another to back it up with adequate resources and the legislation to give it effect.

Not one of us knows the women or men affected daily by domestic abuse. The figure has been quoted of one in four women in Ireland experiencing physical and sexual violence from an intimate partner. That is a striking figure but we do not know the figures for men. This week a gentleman was brought to my constituency office by his siblings. He had to leave the family home for his and his children's well-being. I filled out the housing application form but because he owns a house and his name is on its title deeds, it will take time for the council to process that application and to ensure he can avail of a housing assistance payment, HAP. The same happens to women who have to leave a house in a hurry for their own safety. It takes too much time.

The obligations under the Istanbul Convention state that we should have 472 refuge spaces for victims of domestic violence but we have only 141. We are only meeting 30% our target and when people come to our offices for assistance, the system prevents us from providing it. I have no doubt that across the political divide we do our level best to get assistance. That needs to be considered. There should be greater flexibility to support people in this situation.

I compliment the good work of Teach Fáilte in Mullingar as a centre for women who suffer domestic abuse. The recurring theme in the debate is that these centres are not adequately resourced. While Teach Fáilte is celebrating a significant anniversary this year, it would not be there were it not for the hard work and dedication of a voluntary committee who have to go out day in, day out to raise critical funds. Without those fundraising events, those doors would not be open and if they were not open, more women would be left in precarious, dangerous situations for much longer. Sharon O'Halloran, the chief executive officer of Safe Ireland, said earlier this week: "Recycled budget announcements and grand statements of commitments will do very little for the women and children coming to our services every day." The Minister should cease the self-congratulations and commit to adequately resourcing these centres so that when women who find themselves in a precarious situation present, they will not be turned away.

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