Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish to begin by expressing my heartfelt condolences to the family of Ashling Murphy on the tragic passing of their beautiful daughter, who was so full of life and had so much to do in life. There is so much hurt for her family to endure. I wish to express my deepest sympathy to her family, her boyfriend, her friends, her school and her community.

Ashling's death has brought the country to its knees in grief and has sharpened the political focus on violence against women in our country. Last October, Mary McDermott of Safe Ireland made a very comprehensive and chilling presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice in relation to the lack of joined-up thinking and inter-agency co-operation that is a glaring gap within our Government Departments. That needs to be addressed and changed. There are so many arms of the State that are required to provide a comprehensive response to this societal issue. New relations need to be forged between the Departments to respond swiftly to the crisis. Yesterday, we heard Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau reference some really staggering figures. I am sure all Members listened to that interview on the news. In 2021, there were 48,000 incidents of domestic abuse, an increase of 10% on 2020; there were 8,600 charges for crimes involving an element of domestic abuse, up 13% on the previous 12 months; and there were 4,250 charges for breaches of the Domestic Violence Act, up 6% from 2020.

I want to take this opportunity to remember the women who have lost their lives across the Cavan-Monaghan area through violence. They are Sheila Lynch, aged 44, who died in December 1998; Sr. Philomena Lyons, who was 68 years of age and died in December 2001; Jamie Farrelly Maughan, aged 13, who died in July 2004; Amy Farrell, who was 21 years of age and died in January 2006; Patricia Kierans, aged 54, who died in September 2013; Antra Ozolina, who was 49 and died in June 2014; and Clodagh Hawe and her three boys, who died in 2016 in County Cavan.

I do not want any more names added to the list and I know that neither does the Minister. I want a comprehensive, compassionate Department that responds to the needs of women and their children who find themselves in these terrifying circumstances. I want safe environments throughout the country in refuges that provide highly specialised facilities. We know that at present nine counties are without these. Refuges should be designed to respond adequately to domestic violence. We do not want places that do not provide the facilities we need. They need to be innovative. We need to rethink and make sure we do not reinvent existing problems. I thank Siobhán McKenna from Tearmann, which does heroic work in Cavan and Monaghan protecting, supporting and advising women who find themselves in aggressive and violent situations.

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