Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The motion to opt in to the proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence is welcome, as is the opportunity for us to discuss and scrutinise same. It is our hope that the proposal complements and will reinforce the State obligations under the Istanbul Convention, rather than acting as a substitute for them or duplicating them.

I pay tribute to Catherine Casey and the work carried out in the Adapt centre in Tralee, which provides a 24-hour service by telephone, involving well-being, domestic violence advocacy and a complete wrap-around service. There were 90 admissions in 2021 but only 30 to 32 bed spaces. County Kerry should be prioritised in any accommodation review that takes place.

Although the State has ratified the Istanbul Convention, there is a decent argument that we do not live up to much of it. Domestic violence shelter provision is perhaps the most glaring example, though I commend the Minister's personal passion for this type of activity and hope it continues into the future. She informed the justice committee not long ago that the Department would be examining the establishment of services directly, which will address the dearth of places around the country. Direct involvement by the Department would be most welcome, rather than outsourcing to anybody else.

The proposal at least sets out minimum standards regarding certain offences, although crimes against women are not crimes as set out within the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Strictly an approach of criminalisation will not work and provision of shelters will be key. More broadly, access to decent employment, social protection payments, housing, childcare and wrap-around services, as evidenced by Catherine Casey and her team in Tralee, all help. When women can access the resources, they are less dependent on abusive partners, so the Government's responsibilities in those areas are crucial for vulnerable populations and people such as abuse victims. Sinn Féin's Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020 was crucial in this respect and prompted the Government to move its own legislation in the area. The Bill enjoys broad support across parties and in the NGO sector. Women's rights are workers' rights and vice versa. In addition to domestic violence leave, progress should be made on a child maintenance agency, which would speed up the payment of maintenance, reducing poverty and vulnerability among single parents who have experienced an abusive partner. Some colleagues of mine have made proposals in this area and the Government's own plans seem slow to come forward.

Another area I am glad to see being addressed is the collection of data on violence against women. We just spoke on this in the justice committee. The collection of data in relation to sexual offences and violence is most important. That should be moved on and improved. The deficit in that is pronounced across the EU but is especially troubling in Ireland.

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