Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I raise once more the closure of Regina Coeli House in Belfast, which is a vital resource for victims of domestic violence, among others. Today marks the completion of six weeks of strike and sit-in by Unite works at the hostel, demanding that the facility be handed over to the state and kept open. Has the Taoiseach raised this with members of the Northern Ireland Executive, as he promised he would? The Tusla proposal that women's refuge places in this State be increased by 50 or 60 in the short term is completely inadequate. This State is more than 300 spaces short of the Istanbul Convention target. We want to see a plan to reach that target far more quickly. I urge everyone on our shared island to march and protest next month to mark International Women's Day and to demand change on issues such as these.

In conclusion, with regard to the ten-strong, socially-distanced, solidarity stand-out organised in Limerick against femicide in 2021, I express the hope that charges against Aislinn O’Keeffe will be dropped before her court date this Friday. Apart from anything else, those charges bring disgrace on this State.

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