Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the last 26 years, 244 women in Ireland have lost their lives to violence perpetrated by men. The question so many women are asking is, “How do I begin to feel safe again and how can other women in Ireland feel safe?” There has rightly been a chorus of calls for more action by the Government and the end of a culture of Departments saying it is not a matter for them. I am talking about the Department of Justice, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Health and other Departments as to the responsibility they have for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I am calling for accountability.

We have heard from campaigns for women’s and children's safety in recent days and a joined-up approach to women’s and children’s safety is long overdue. Over Christmas, I was speaking to a person who came home from Canada. She was in a local village when a group of 11 to 13-year-olds heckled her on her way to the shop. There were people on the street and not one person came to her aid.

Is this the norm in Ireland and in our towns and villages? Is it the norm that we see people being heckled, including women, children and elderly people, and nobody coming to their aid?

I give my sincere sympathies to Ashling Murphy and her family. There are no words I can say that will make it any better for the family but it is our job to make sure we do everything possible to bring this perpetrator to justice. For the future safety of women in this country, we have to protect them and all people in society.

What is the answer to Departments and commissions when last week Limerick City and County Council was fined €110,000 for placing cameras in public places by a commission? These are the same cameras we ask for to protect people in this country because of a lack of gardaí and a lack of accountability from Government.

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