Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I send International Women's Day greetings to all who are struggling for women's rights worldwide, including those who are putting their lives on the line in doing so in places such as Iran.

Here in this county the Government is heralding a constitutional referendum on women in the home in the same week it decides to lift the eviction ban, thus ensuring thousands of women will not have a home. Domestic violence shelters are reporting significant amounts of readmissions. The housing crisis means women frequently have little option but to return to their abuser, leading to a higher amount of repeat admissions and continued trauma.

The Central Statistics Office tells us 83% of sexual offences involved a suspect known to the victim, 21% were a friend or acquaintance, 16% were blood relatives, 15% were partners or ex-partners, and 17% were strangers. This runs directly contrary to the narrative being perpetrated by the far right about where the threat comes from for women. Hiding the fact that the overwhelming majority of perpetrators are known to the victim is dangerous to victims and is dangerous for refugees on whom they seek to blame this pandemic of gender-based violence. Anyone can be a perpetrator, regardless of nationality. Far-right organisers have campaigned against abortion, marriage equality and divorce. They only care about this issue when they can try to spin it for their own ends.

I do not have time for my final point. I will only say that it should be ten, not five, days' domestic violence leave and 100% pay with no cut. Long live International Women's Day.

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