Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to use the word "welcome" because I cannot convey my sense of frustration that I am back here talking about domestic abuse during statements. The only change here is that we are talking about actions to address domestic abuse. That is a slight positive change.

The Taoiseach's speech was very good on generalities and positive messages with very few specifics. If we are talking about actions, I had hoped, at the very least, he would have given specifics. Deputy Howlin reinforced that by stating we should all collectively give a message to victims of domestic violence that they are not alone. I do not think that is my role. My role is to ensure that services are adequately resourced and that I use every opportunity in the Dáil to hold the system to account.

The Taoiseach's speech today was not adequate. He referred to an audit and a report by Tusla. In response to a question I asked last September, I found out that Tusla was carrying out a review of services on the ground. This was the most basic review of the need for refuges on the ground, and whether they were adequate, yet here we are today. I hope the Minister of State tells us in her closing statement when that review will be published, why it was delayed and what is going on. The terms of reference of the report looking at the segmentation of services stated it would be finished by March. It is now July and the Taoiseach made a speech today giving us no reason that has not been published. Maybe the Minister of State could address that in her closing remarks.

The Policing Authority tells us the response from An Garda was not adequate. In May, the chairperson expressed his, and the authority's, acute disappointment and intense frustration that information in the possession of, and immediately available to, An Garda Síochána had not been, and was not being, provided to the authority. Again, the Taoiseach did not give us an idea when the internal review by An Garda will be completed. There are no dates. My colleague, Deputy McGrath, referred to the cost. At a conservative estimate, the cost of not treating domestic violence is more than €2.2 billion per year. Researchers from the university in my city tell me that figure is grossly underestimated.

We need to deal with domestic violence on every level, but, first, let us please stop talking about it and let the Taoiseach come back to tell us about the actions, one, two and three, identified by the Minister for Justice almost a year ago. I would appreciate it if that could be done by the Minister of State. That would be progress.

See this speech in context