Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also extend my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ashling Murphy. Lots of words have been spoken since her horrific murder last Wednesday, words of anger, compassion, love and deep sadness. There are not really the right words to properly convey how deeply Ashling's murder has affected us all and shaken the whole nation. However, I would like to share some words written by Orla Muldoon, a professor of psychology, in The Irish Timeslast Friday. She wrote:

Disproportionately, year on year, the pattern is clear nationally and internationally. Men kill women, men assault women, men harass women. Not all men, not even many men. But it is nearly always men, not women, who kill women.

Ministers and Deputies have spoken of how many people have shared their stories and experiences over the past week, whether jeering, street harassment, exposure, groping and much more serious incidents of coercive control, assault and rape. All, without exception, were at the hands of men. Everyone is looking for change and for the systemic violence perpetrated by men against women to stop.

Before coming to the House today, I spoke to a friend whose sister was murdered five years ago by her partner to get a family perspective. It struck me how important it is that when a woman in a situation of domestic violence reaches out for help, that such help is there. It might be a moment where the woman gets the courage to say she does think the situation she is in is good. If help is not forthcoming at that time, it is a moment missed. It is important, therefore, that resources are available and people are sufficiently trained and know how to handle that situation. As we know, women often get to a stage where they do not believe they are in such a bad situation. When they make that brave move they need to be sure that someone has their back.

While I did not want my contribution to include a whole bunch of statistics, I do want to mention that the World Health Organization estimates that one in three women, which equates to 736 million women, is subjected to physical or sexual violence by a partner or sexual violence by a non-partner in her lifetime. That figure has remained largely unchanged in the past decade. We need to ensure that everything we have seen, with the vigils in the past week and all the words spoken here this evening, results in change and is a catalyst for change. A point that has been raised, and I welcome that it will be addressed, is that this issue does not fall to one specific Department but comes under many different areas. Some areas fall within the Department of Children, while others are for the Department of Justice. A joined-up approach is imperative.

I have been struck by many of the contributions. However, we need to ensure that this discussion results in action.

I also raise one of the recommendations the Citizens' Assembly on gender equality made for a programme relating to sexual education, relationships, the role of consent and how important that is and recognising what is, what constitutes a good and healthy relationship and gender power dynamics within relationships. It is imperative we roll out that programme. It was an excellent recommendation from that assembly and we need to see it rolled out at primary and secondary school level in an age-appropriate way. There cannot be any more excuses. Those in schools cannot feel uncomfortable. We need to provide resources and ensure it happens. We also need an updated sexual abuse and violence in Ireland report.

This has been referenced by other Deputies, but nine counties, including Carlow in my constituency, do not have women's refuges. As previous speakers indicated, we do not have the required bed space. I also echo the calls by the National Women's Council of Ireland with regard to compiling comprehensive data on the number of women suffering violence at the hands of men. It is crucial that we get this data together. I am always struck in these debates by our history in relation to women. Since the foundation of the State, we have not had a good history in this regard, in particular with the Magdalen laundries and mother and baby institutions. We cannot keep repeating mistakes and continuously have debates here during which we declare that we are shocked and outraged. We as legislators have the power to make really progressive change. It is not going to happen overnight and the response must be multifaceted. From what I heard earlier and this evening, however, the political will seems to exist across the board. We should really take that now and ensure there is action and not just words.

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