Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, which was launched before the summer. Of course, the decision by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to publish the strategy’s implementation plan was also welcome. It placed an emphasis and on obligation on all relevant Departments, including the Taoiseach’s Department, with regard to that. I understand that the oversight of this legislation and policy rests with the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality, which is chaired by the Taoiseach. We have previously raised concerns about this particular committee and how it operates and, particularly, about the fact that it meets so infrequently to be able to oversee this strategy. Perhaps the Taoiseach would set out in practice how the committee is working in terms of oversight of the strategy. The strategy also commits to the establishment of a high-level oversight board, chaired by the Secretaries General of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice, with a secretariat from the Department of the Taoiseach. Perhaps the Taoiseach could confirm that both are now up and running and that the Taoiseach’s commitments and obligations in the areas of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are to be included in the Department’s key priorities in the future.

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