Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, táim buíoch den Teachta as an ábhar seo a ardú. Aontaím leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle chun ár gcomhbhrón a dhéanamh le muintir Uí Mhurchú as bás Ashling. Níl aon amhras ach go bhfuil an tír go léir an-bhuartha ar fad maidir leis an méid atá tarlaithe. Tá tuiscint againn go léir le hathair, máthair agus le teaghlach uilig Uí Mhurchú ag an am seo. In the first instance, I join with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in expressing my profound sympathy once again to the family of Ashling Murphy, her parents Raymond and Kathleen, sister Amy, brother Cathal, boyfriend Ryan, her wider family and the entire community for the violent and horrible manner of her death. She was taken from an entire community and was someone who gave so much to that community. As a national school teacher, she personified the essence of national school teaching in this country that, as I have said previously, is the bedrock upon which much has been built in our society down through the decades. She encapsulated a lot in her love of music and sport but, above all, what one was left with yesterday was a sense of the extraordinary embeddedness of the Murphy family, and of Ashling, in the wider community, which was there in all forms and facets. This horrible crime tore at the heart of that value of community and family. I wanted to say that.

I agree with the Deputy that this is a watershed in our society's approach to the undermining of women and violence towards women. There can be no tolerance for that. The Minister for Justice has been working on a national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. That will be completed in early March. I can say to the Deputy that the Minister for Justice will, as a result of that, lead the policy area on this matter but will also be responsible for the provision of services. This is so there will be, as the Deputy and others have articulated previously, a coherent, single key leadership role within the Cabinet in this area, which will then be accountable to the Cabinet committee, chaired by me, in respect of making sure there will be delivery on all aspects of that strategy and existing policies.

I will convene a meeting of leaders. I think that is a good idea. I believe that statements on this matter from all leaders will be articulated later in the House.

I will say openly that this should be a cross-party Oireachtas approach mirroring what society wants to do. In that context, men need to listen more and hear women more on this and related issues.

The Deputy is correct that Ashling is not the first woman to have been murdered violently in this manner. We need to eliminate this from our society, as well as all aspects of the undermining of women in a misogynistic way or in any other form. That takes a multifaceted approach embracing prevention, protection, security and education. In short, it needs a sea change in culture, not just legislation and initiatives, to eliminate this.

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