Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I too extend my condolences to the Murphy family on the loss of Ashling Murphy. The whole country has been united in sorrow and anger over the past week. That must mean something and it must count for something. We have to remember, as has been stated, that Ashling is one of 244 women who have died violently since 1966 and we have to ask ourselves why, in 2022, there is so much left to do. The truth is that we have not prioritised addressing violence against women. We must do so in a serious way.

I listened intently to the Minister's contribution. I think she is genuine in her approach and in what she is setting out to do. I am also encouraged regarding the reaction across the political divide. I did not know what to expect coming in here. I am encouraged that there is a willingness and openness to work together on this. If there needs to be one legacy from Ashling, it should be that we do that and play our part. Each of us has a part of play in terms of legislation and of making sure that the things women are asking us to change are changed here and now.

I remember today all the lives cut short because of violence and domestic violence. We often fail to remember the women who have suffered in our communities. The data is important because the violence against and abuse of women is so hidden. We know that only about 25% of women ever seek help and that so much of it goes unreported. Again, we have to ask why. The reason is that women do not feel that they will get the support they need. From all these discussions, including today, there will be a huge increase in the number of women coming forward. I encourage women to come forward to get support and help. I ask the Minister to make sure that the resources are there for all those calls to be answered and for women to get the help they need in a meaningful way.

We have asked for years for a Minister solely in charge and we all agree the way forward is a key leadership role in Cabinet. Otherwise, things will not happen. Everybody has been responsible and nobody has been responsible for many of the things that have happened and that should have been addressed before they happened.

I acknowledge what Deputy Stanton did with regard to coercive control. Deputy Bacik is here. We worked on this matter together. That was a good example of working on a cross-party basis in the Seanad with the Civic Engagement Group. I do not want to start naming individuals because I know that I will leave somebody out, but Colette Kelleher comes to mind. She is no longer in the Seanad. I know, and Deputy Bacik will know, that when Deputy Stanton, as a Minister of State, was trying to bring that forward, he encountered blocks. The Minister will meet with blocks in the Civil Service of people saying that it cannot be done or it cannot be done in a certain way. The Minister has the collective mandate of all of us in this Chamber to get rid of those blocks and make sure that we make a difference.

I want to remember Sandra Collins today and I want to appeal to people. Sandra has not been seen since December 2000. She is one of the missing women. The Garda file on her case remains open. The family accept that she is no longer with us; all they want is for her body to be returned. I appeal again today for that to be happen.

Regarding perpetrators of violence who are former partners and husbands, will the Minister please do something to make sure that children are not forced to meet such perpetrators? There are too many judgments being made where it is known that there have been violent relationships and where the children of perpetrators of violence are made to go and meet those same people.

There are many things we can do. I feel encouraged by the commitments today. We will work together, and it is our duty to do so. Can we bring this matter back onto the floor of the House every two months, even for this year, in order to make sure that we measure the commitments made today in terms of strategy and other things? We should continuously measure that these things are being done. We cannot afford to just let this slide.

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