Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are rightly proud of much of the progress we have made in Ireland over the past several decades and especially in the past decade. We have seen positive and inclusive social progress made and at a pace which has surprised many. However, despite this progress, we face a continued battle to achieve full inclusivity and equality within our society. This is true of many minorities and groups but also applies to the largest population group in the country which is, of course, women. The regrettable truth is sexism and gender bias has been allowed to fester and spread throughout every aspect of our society for far too long.

The pervasive and insidious nature of sexism has resulted in a situation in which every woman in Ireland can recount multiple experiences in which they felt physically or verbally harassed or were made to feel uncomfortable in their working environment; took a longer route home for fear of their personal safety or avoided public transport at night. This happens on a daily basis. It is happening in workplaces, restaurants and pubs. It is happening in the home and has happened on the street. The tragic reality is it happens far too often, so that many women do not even report it or speak of it and choose not to follow up on it. No one should have to endure these unsolicited and unacceptable encounters in this way.

To tackle the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, we must build a broad coalition. Men, especially, must do better and must call out this behaviour when they see it. We, as men, must not tolerate the casual harassment or comments passed by other men about women. These women are mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. They should not have to tolerate the behaviour of men who act in a way which is abhorrent to the decency within society.

Education will play an important role in this effort. Introducing extensive education programmes on consent, harassment and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will be a positive step. I am pleased the Citizens' Assembly has recommended this form part of the review of the relationship and sexual education curriculum in schools. In quarter 1 of next year, we will begin with the junior cycle. Some universities have already begun such models on campuses. This should be increased throughout all levels of higher education. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is working to ensure these programmes become a regular part of university life.

The assembly has also highlighted the importance of other recommendations, among them, the removal of Article 41.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, commonly referred to as the women in the home article. Section 2 of this article refers to the need for the State to ensure mothers shall not engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home. It is jarring that in 2021 such a sentiment remains in our Constitution. While the removal of this article will not act as a silver bullet for this problem, it is yet another example of the casual and everyday sexism to which women are subjected.

I am also pleased the role of technology companies has been highlighted in the recommendations. The spreading of private images and the malicious nature of persistent harassment, bullying and other forms of abusive behaviour have no place on the Internet nor in society. These activities must be removed without delay by the technology companies involved and we in this House must hold those companies to account and ensure they are doing all they can to remove content such as this and indeed social media users who engage in this sort of activity.

7 o’clock

The assembly has called for specialist training of judges and lawyers with regard to the treatment of victims which includes the exclusion of their sexual history, their clothing or, indeed, their character, as Deputy Higgins so eloquently put it.

While there are positive developments being led by Government, such as the forthcoming publication of these third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the Gender Pay Gap Information Act and, indeed, the recently introduced and mentioned Private Members’ Bill by my colleague, Deputy Higgins, are reminders that there is a considerable body of work that remains to be done. It will take years to complete, but it must be done. We must be bold and consistent in our efforts to root out gender inequality and everyday sexism in our society.

The scourge of domestic violence tears at the fabric of our society and has profound ramifications for the victims and those close to victims. In 2020, there was a 17% increase in the number of domestic violence calls to An Garda Síochána. This constitutes an average of 120 calls per day, totalling 43,500 calls over 2020 alone. Sadly, this number does not represent the full extent of domestic violence, as many cases go unreported and victims suffer in silence and in despair.

Similarly, a report carried out last year by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, highlighted the experience of women on public transport. It showed that one in three has been physically harassed on public transport; 55% of women avoid public transport at night; and 47% of women take a longer route home while walking due to safety concerns. The report is filled with statistics such as these. It is a damning look at an issue that has been too long ignored by society as a whole. I recently witnessed vile comments being used on a DART one evening. A group of young men used language aimed at a woman who was leaving the train which had no place in either private or public discourse. It is a disturbing event that should not have taken place. The individual who chanted these phrases did so in the safety of his own group of friends, and with a sense of impunity. It was the truest form of toxic masculinity aimed at a lone woman. While this is an overt scenario, it speaks to the attitude of acceptance of some men - too many men - with regard to this kind of behaviour. I refer to the quiet language of the nod and wink, or a whistle as a woman passes, or worse still the cat-call from scaffolding at a college student on her way to a lecture in the morning, when dressed in jeans and a hooded top, heard the words, "Walk of shame, love" as she passed. There is a resulting feeling of uncomfortableness and fear for those women. That instance, incidentally, was not in this jurisdiction but it is still valid.

I have spoken many times on the need to build an inclusive, progressive and sustainable society. We can do this if all people feel safe and if everyone, regardless of their race, orientation or gender are treated equally. We must do all that we can to realise a truly modern Ireland and to build on the progress of the past. We must support women and minorities to rise up in business, politics, education and every other aspect of society, so that they can live the lives they choose without undue barriers being placed in their way for no other reason but the gender they were born as.

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