Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the proposal for a directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. It is important that progress is continually made in responding to violence against women but it is also important to ensure we have a range of supports for victims that are comprehensive and accessible. The key elements of the proposal include: first, the criminalisation of rape, female genital mutilation and cyberviolence; second, safe reporting and risk-assessment procedures; third, respect for victims' privacy in judicial proceedings and right to compensation; fourth, support for victims; and, last, better co-ordination and co-operation. These are minimum standards and their importance cannot be overemphasised but minimum standards should not be exhaustive. We should aspire to greater standards for prevention policy, supports and care.

We need to know if the third strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will include a timeframe and budget for the urgent delivery of additional family refuge places and wrap-around services such as psychological supports and childcare. The ability of people to plead domestic violence can be made more difficult by difficulties accessing emergency housing due to the shortage in housing supply. The Minister for housing said the primary purpose of homeless current expenditure is for councillors to provide accommodation for those unable to provide it from their own resources, not specifically to provide for victims of domestic abuse or violence. Neither is there a dedicated capital expenditure budget line in any Department for domestic violence safe accommodation provision. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of gender-based and domestic violence, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is the current position of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that the primary responsibility for the provision of refuge capacity is with Tusla. Such an overlap in terms of departmental responsibility hampers our ability to meet demand and people who are fleeing domestic violence pay the price.

While the capital assistance scheme is available to local authorities and approved housing bodies for refuges, the Department is one step removed from being proactive in this regard. This distance between the Department and people's needs is reflected in the acknowledgement by the Minister for Justice that Ireland is not meeting its obligation under the Istanbul Convention to provide adequate accommodation with wraparound supports such as psychological care and childcare. On top of that, earlier this year, we learned how Cuan Saor had been operating at full capacity since the pandemic began, resulting in the centre being unable to meet demand. What can we expect of the third national strategy as regards refuge spaces? Will a budget be provided so that our ability to meet the immediate needs of victims of gender-based and domestic violence is not dependent on fundraising at a time of rapidly increasing inflation?

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