Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly on this subject. All too often, our laws are just not tough enough with regard to sexual violence against women or online threats and harassment. All too often, we hear of cases where there is undue leniency. We need tougher laws. We need to ensure we can curb this type of behaviour and prevent it. The only way we can prevent such behaviour is by having a tough response. Unfortunately, the responses are in many cases not tough enough. That leads to women having to suffer and that is not right in the Ireland of 2022.

I commend the Garda for all it does. Our domestic violence services across the country, and particularly in my constituency of Laois-Offaly, do fantastic work. The real gaps exist in the justice system and the lack of justice for women. There is a need for much tougher laws.

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