Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all have a role to play to make the world safer for women, for girls and for all young people in all their diversity. Gender-based violence is a global emergency. Having these statements as part of today’s Government business means we are highlighting the urgency of this matter.

The Women's Aid report showed a staggering 43% increase in contacts compared to 2019. Almost 15% of women between the ages of 18 and 74 years have experienced physical and sexual violence in their lives. Nearly 31% have experienced psychological violence. These statistics show us that this is an emergency. Women's Aid has made 43 recommendations. It is vital that they are considered in our strategy. We have to listen to people and I ask that these 43 recommendations be considered.

I welcome the third national strategy, especially as it will have a significant focus on service delivery and will place a priority on prevention and reduction. It will include a national prevention strategy. Public consultation has begun but it is important that we highlight communications. I have serious issues with communication. It is one of the most serious issues that we have as a Government.

Carlow’s Women's Aid needs support and funding. It does great work. It is yet to be contacted about this review. We need to look after the small rural towns such as Carlow and learn what is necessary to support them to make the system better for women. Across the country, we must do what we can to support local organisations. I can only speak for my own area, where Carlow Women's Aid does a marvellous job. I also want to compliment Carlow County Council which has been fantastic in providing emergency accommodation in my constituency. However, we need to look at resourcing supports properly. We do not have a women's refuge in Carlow. It is absolutely shameful that this is the case in 2021. The Taoiseach spoke about the audit which is looking at the overall responsibility and co-ordination. I welcome this but we must all play our part. We need an all-of-government approach that is well co-ordinated. Regardless of party, we all have a responsibility to respond to domestic sexual and gender-based violence.

I know how hard the gardaí work. Their role is vital, particularly in supporting of victims of domestic abuse, but I was very upset to hear of the cancellation of more than 600 emergency domestic violence calls to 999 in 2019 and 2020. I welcome the Garda Commissioner’s public apology to those who did not receive the standard of service from the Garda that they required and deserved. I have received phone calls about this. We cannot let this happen again. It takes an enormous amount of strength and bravery to make one of these calls and support should be there when it is sought. I am assured that when someone calls 999, they can expect and trust that An Garda Síochána will help those who most need it. Gardaí play an important role. It is important that we recognise that and I say "well done" to them.

Since 1 January 2019, coercive control has been a criminal offence in Ireland. In 2019, Ireland also ratified the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. Our criminal legislation now enables prosecution for online and other forms of abuse. We are doing more. The online safety and media regulation Bill is about to go through these Houses. We need to make it safer for women to be online, and we need to make it safer for our children. We need to learn more about the level of intimate relationship abuse experienced by young people. For us to know how to help we really need to know what the issues are. It is all about communication and speaking out. People need to know that there is someone there to talk to and who can help. There are so many people out there who will help but the biggest issue is encouraging people to get help.

We need to reach out to our young people and highlight healthy relationships and what an unhealthy relationship looks like. Many people who watched the highly acclaimed “Normal People” said it was a great lesson in consent. We really need to open conversations around consent and around healthy and unhealthy relationships and to remove the stigma of seeking help, which is the biggest problem. We can overcome this and tell people that we are there to help.

I welcome the €2.7 million in additional funding to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as support for victims and the contingency funding related to the pandemic. However, we need more. There is a serious requirement to identify the needs and then to fund them.

It is vital that the Tusla review of emergency accommodation nationwide be completed as a matter of urgency. We urgently need to implement a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls. We all know this is urgent. I ask all Members across all parties, inside and outside the Government, to play a role in ensuring we do everything we can to help people, particularly women and young children.

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