Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Last week was the first anniversary of Ashling Murphy's murder. Since then, a further 16 women have been killed on the island of Ireland, including two already this year, namely, Bruna Fonseca, and Maud Coffey. NGOs and campaigners have rightly called this an epidemic of gender-based violence. More than 250 women have been violently killed since 1996 and in the vast majority of resolved cases, they were killed by a man known to them. In half the cases, they were killed by a current or former partner. We must call this what it is: femicide. Misogyny remains deeply rooted in society. These murders are just the tip of the iceberg. The epidemic is manifest in countless cases of assaults, domestic violence, torture, coercive control, financial abuse, harassment, stalking and so-called revenge porn. The horrifying list goes on.

Last year, vigils were held across the country and there was a national demand for action. However, we must be honest and ask what has changed. Women continue to be killed, to live in fear and to message when they are home safely. While this is a complex issue that needs responses from all of society, there are concrete things that the Government can and must do more quickly to confront gender-based violence. These are just some examples: first, we need more refuge spaces. Safe Ireland's pre-budget submission shows that the State only provides 29% of the required refuge spaces. The Istanbul Convention's standard is one space per 10,000 people and Ireland only provides a fraction of that. Cork city and county, with a population of more than 500,000, should have 54 spaces and it has six. I have repeatedly raised this matter. This week last year, speaking on Ashling Murphy's death, I called for additional funding to provide these refuge spaces. Again today, I reiterate that call.

The next issue I wish to raise is domestic violence leave. I welcome the legislation bringing in domestic violence leave. However, it is recommended that this leave be up to ten days annually. The legislation only allows for five days, half of what is required.

The third area relates to reform of the justice system. While there have been some very welcome and much-needed changes, victims and survivors are still experiencing hostile systems and there is still massive under-reporting of these crimes.

The final issue I wish to raise is education, education, education. Social, personal and health education is scandalously outdated and, as a result, it is harmful. There is an immediate need for education on consent, sexual violence, coercion and online abuse. Shamefully, there are groups - even Members of this House - opposing these vital reforms.

In November 2021, the Government delayed the progress of the Social Democrats Bill introduced by Deputy Gannon on relationships and sex education. The Minister for Education must immediately bring in a new curriculum and training for teachers to provide young people with the skills and knowledge to help them develop respectful social and sexual relationships.

I accept that the Government is committed to addressing gender-based violence but to be fair, with the political will, considerably more could be done. One significant step the Minister for Justice could take is to immediately meet those working in this sector, especially organisations such as Safe Ireland, Women's Aid, and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. They are the experts and they know exactly what changes are needed across all Departments and public services. The Government should meet them and listen to them. We are just 18 days into the new year and we already have had two killings. This trend cannot be allowed to continue. There is more the Government can do and it must do it now.

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