Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The brutal murder of Ashling Murphy has appalled us all. It has also shone a light on what women in this country have had to live with forever. Last night I watched a programme on television that highlighted the case of the Kerry babies. Joanne Hayes is another woman whose life was destroyed by a sustained campaign of institutional violence against her that lasted almost 40 years. The State apologies while trying to sweep our shame under the carpet are not good enough at this stage. Gender-based violence is endemic in our society. It is time we were mature enough to recognise it and, more importantly, to do something about it.

One crime that saw reports skyrocket during the pandemic is domestic violence and this has been mentioned by many speakers. It was seen in every county. However, the budgets for 2021 and 2022 failed to address it in any meaningful way or to prioritise domestic violence as a Statewide problem. Official Ireland ignores the reality while women live in fear and suffer appalling violence.

A 2020 report by Transport Infrastructure Ireland found that more than 50% of women would not use public transport at night. One in 10 women surveyed in Dublin had experienced sexual harassment on public transport. This is unacceptable. Only last year we found out that gardaí had cancelled more than 3,000 999 calls relating to domestic violence. Women are crying out for help and the calls are ignored and not even logged by the authorities.

There are only 144 spaces in refuges throughout the State. Safe Ireland received more than ten times as many requests for accommodation in the first half of last year alone. Dublin has 31 beds for its population. At least Dublin has beds. We know there are counties that have no beds whatsoever for victims of domestic violence. Austerity era cuts have not been reversed in many sectors and many projects have less money year on year and find it impossible to provide the level of service required by those who rely on them. The domestic violence Bill of my colleague, Deputy Louise O'Reilly, is being discussed in committee as I speak. Domestic violence dominates a person's life. It follows them from home to the workplace. Workers need greater protection. If anything happens following these debates, it is that we need to see action and not just words.

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