Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In relation to the Presentation Secondary School in Carlow, I did not hear the interview this morning but I agree with the Deputy that there is no place for victim shaming in any context and the Department of Education and the Minister will clearly receive a report on it. If the principal is challenging the report of what we read in the media, in fairness to the House we have to seek out the full facts before passing commentary on it.

In terms of the broader issue, the Deputy summed it up when he said gender based violence and sexism are systemic. This is why it requires a systemic response. It cannot just be a response for six weeks or six months. Our response has to be truly systemic throughout our society. It has to be based on fundamental human values of respect for one another, for the dignity of the human person and for the most basic of human values. Those basic human values, particularly not to injure others and not in any shape or form ever raise a hand or engage in violence towards a woman, are something that were ingrained in earlier years. It is wrong and it is horrific that the level of violence is as it is. We know from various reports on abuse itself that it has been systemic and it needs a systemic response. It needs constant engagement at all levels of society from the earliest ages in terms of inculcating basic values of respect, toleration and understanding the dignity of the human being and that certain actions are never right in any circumstance.

In my earlier response to Deputy McDonald, I outlined the Government's broad range of commitments. The implementation of the O'Malley report is very important. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is very committed to this area and is acting on a number of fronts, not least the legislation to be brought in on the sharing of intimate images.

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