Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo Deputy O'Reilly's call for the Government to support the very important legislation she has introduced. It is vital.

We know through research and study that sexual, domestic and gender-based violence has a negative impact physically, emotionally, financially and psychologically. We also know it is insidious and pervasive. Increasing numbers of organisations are raising concerns about the formation of unhealthy relationships in our younger population. As an elected representative and a mother, I am not trying to gloss over parental roles in these cases. There is, however, an active space for schools, colleges and sporting organisations to have a positive impact, and there is a responsibility on us as legislators to provide fit-for-purpose frameworks for policies and laws and, more importantly, resources to support the efforts of these groups. None of us as adults, and certainly as parents, relishes the reality that there are teenagers out there being subjected to this level of abuse, but they are and we need to face that reality and deal with it. Our wishing it away is not helping our teenage girls and boys. It does not help them to recognise the signs of coercive control in intimate relationships. Campaigns such as TooIntoYou by Women's Aid need to be properly resourced and continued, as do the other organisations that work tirelessly with survivors of gender-based violence and domestic abuse. They need to be properly funded and adequately resourced.

There are, however, other, very easy steps that can be taken. There can be no more letters sent by Tusla to the woman who has been battered black and blue by her partner telling her it is her responsibility to shelter her children from physical violence. That is unacceptable. It was unacceptable when it was sent and it remains unacceptable today. Not a single corresponding letter was sent to the perpetrator of that violence. No more - that needs to end. I say to the women of Longford and Westmeath and to the men who may be suffering: reach out. It is never too late. There are always support services there. Whether it is Longford Women's Link, Westmeath Support Service Against Domestic Abuse, or Esker House, reach out to somebody. There is help. There is assistance.

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